• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.21-47
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• 2021

Purpose - Offshoring has emerged as one of the major trends in international trade and has become one of the strategies for achieving competitiveness in the global market. In spite of this, the expected gains of offshoring can be offset by hidden costs and risks, such as those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the trade war between the USA and China, and the ongoing trade dispute between Korea and Japan. To obviate such business failure and prevent critical business blunders, offshoring strategies that efficiently consider both risk elements and potential wealth creation are urgently need. The first purpose of this study is to contribute to the development of more advanced offshoring strategies to help host countries select the best locations to manage supply chain risks and create unique value. The second purpose is to specifically analyze the current status of Korea and provide Korean companies with implications to be considered when deciding whether to offshore or re-shore. Design/methodology - A Network DEA model was applied to measure the comparative location efficiency of national competencies for offshoring strategy from perspectives of wealth creation opportunities (profitability and marketability) and supply chain risk management. The location efficiencies are compared among a total 70 countries selected from the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) and globally attractive locations outlined by Kearney (2017). For the secondary analysis of efficiency, a t-test examining the nature of competitive advantage and the level of sophistication in production processes was implemented in three divisions. We then analyzed differences in offshoring performance in terms of the identified national traits. Moreover, Tobit regression analysis is conducted to investigate the correlation between value-added business activities and each divisional efficiency, seeking to determine how each degree of value-added business activity influences the increase in offshoring productivity. Findings - Regarding overall location efficiency for offshoring performance, only the USA and Italy were identified as being efficient as host countries for offshoring, under circumstances of advanced development, such as productivity and risk management. Korea ranks 13th among 70 countries. The determinants of national competitiveness depend on national traits (the nature of competitive advantage and business sophistication). Countries with labor/resource advantages and labor-intensive industries are more competitive in terms of marketability than others. In contrast, countries with strong technology-intensive industries benefit offshoring companies, particularly in the technology sector, with the added advantage of supply chain risk management. As the perception of a value chain is broader in a country, it can achieve both production sophistication and competitive advantages such as marketability and SCRM. Originality/value - Existing studies focus on offshoring effectiveness from a company perspective. This paper contributes to comparing country efficiency in producing core competencies related to an offshoring strategy and also segments countries into three performance-based considerations associated with the global offshoring market. It also details Korea's position as an offshoring location according to national efficiency and competency.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.277-298
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• 2008

This study develops the market attractiveness assessment model and draws the strategic target markets and their corresponding exporting strategies through identifying the market positions in the dimensions of market attractiveness scores and market positional strength to achieve the innovative export promotion of Korean heavy electric industry and the resulting improvement and reversal of comparative-disadvantage position. In chapter 2, we analyze the stages of selecting target markets, the constructs and their measure variables of market attractiveness models, and the components and strategic policy implications of directional policy matrix. And in chapter 3, we identify the comparative advantage positions of Korean heavy electric industry in the global market through analyzing its trade structure, trends, balance, ratio-balance, and specialization index by the item and the region respectively. We find that the Asia/Pacific region is the most attractive export market of the Korean heavy electric equipment industry, the following important strategic target markets are the America, MENA, CIS/East Europe Regions in the order of their attractiveness and competitive position dimensions. In the mean time, the sub-Sahara Africa and West Europe region is shown to be the long-run-viewpoint target market requiring the innovation or divest strategies owing to their low attractiveness and the low market share of Korean exports.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.113-125
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• 2022

Purpose - The primary purpose of this study is to verify whether the target set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for reducing carbon emissions from ships can be achieved by quantitatively analyzing the trends in technological advances of fuel oil consumption in the container shipping market. To achieve this purpose, several scenarios are designed considering various options such as eco-friendly fuels, low-speed operation, and the growth in ship size. Design/methodology - The vessel size and speed used in prior studies are utilized to estimate the fuel oil consumption of container ships and the pace of technological progress and Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) regulations are added. A database of 5,260 container ships, as of 2019, is used for multiple linear regression and quantile regression analyses. Findings - The fuel oil consumption of vessels is predominantly affected by their speed, followed by their size, and the annual technological progress is estimated to be 0.57%. As the quantile increases, the influence of ship size and pace of technological progress increases, while the influence of speed and coefficient of EEDI variables decreases. Originality/value - The conservative estimation of carbon emission drawn by a quantitative analysis of the technological progress concerning the fuel efficiency of container vessels shows that it is not possible to achieve IMO targets. Therefore, innovative efforts beyond the current scope of technological progress are required.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.252-258
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• 2022

Ukraine has a significant in quantity and unique in quality parameters, in particular, the level of education, a resource - the labor force, which, along with natural resources, can serve as the basis for economic growth and the achievement of sustainable development goals. The study is aimed at a thorough identification of the main factors influencing the formation and use of the labor force in Ukraine, including by comparing with the indicators of the EU countries, before the start of the active phase of military aggression by the Russian Federation. It was found that until February 24, 2022, there were negative trends in the change in the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the labor force due to the demographic crisis, the transformation of the national economy and shortcomings in state regulation of labor market development processes. The military actions not only exacerbated pre-existing problems, but also led to the emergence of new ones. A significant number of refugees and internally displaced persons, with the termination of the activities of half of the economic entities, provoked a sharp increase in real unemployment and a decrease in wages. The specific problem of the labor market of Ukraine - the "labor crisis", which has and will have a significant impact on the labor force, is carefully considered.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.71-86
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• 2020

Purpose - This study investigates research trends by searching for English keywords and abstracts in 1,511 Korean journal articles in the Korea Citation Index from the 2002-2019 period using the term "Port." The study aims to lay the foundation for a more balanced development of port research. Design/methodology - Using abstract and keyword data, we perform frequency analysis and word embedding (Word2vec). A t-SNE plot shows the main keywords extracted using the TextRank algorithm. To analyze which words were used in what context in our two nine-year subperiods (2002-2010 and 2010-2019), we use Scattertext and scaled F-scores. Findings - First, during the 18-year study period, port research has developed through the convergence of diverse academic fields, covering 102 subject areas and 219 journals. Second, our frequency analysis of 4,431 keywords in 1,511 papers shows that the words "Port" (60 times), "Port Competitiveness" (33 times), and "Port Authority" (29 times), among others, are attractive to most researchers. Third, a word embedding analysis identifies the words highly correlated with the top eight keywords and visually shows four different subject clusters in a t-SNE plot. Fourth, we use Scattertext to compare words used in the two research sub-periods. Originality/value - This study is the first to apply abstract and keyword analysis and various text mining techniques to Korean journal articles in port research and thus has important implications. Further in-depth studies should collect a greater variety of textual data and analyze and compare port studies from different countries.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.23-56
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• 2023

To investigate the causes of Korea's growth slowdown over the past thirty years, we estimate the contributions of major developmental factors, including i) demographic factors (changes in population growth and workforce age due to the demographic transition), ii) quality-of-life-related choice factors (changes in working hours, education, and the female employment rate), iii) structural change, and iv) the effects of productivity catch-up. Our estimates show that these four groups of factors account for approximately 90 percent of the growth slowdown, with demographic factors contributing approximately 30 percent and the other three groups of factors each contributing about 20 percent. We also show that the same factors explain most of Korea's high growth in the 1980s. These results suggest that Korea's growth slowdown is basically a consequence of its successful economic development and that the high growth and subsequent slowdown can be regarded as a single process. In addition, given that the factors examined here exhibit similar patterns of change in the course of economic development of most countries, we think that our estimation results of the relationship between economic development and changes in economic growth trends could have more general implications that go beyond Korea's experience.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.167-188
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• 2021

This study was carried out to identify the key drivers behind the rapid growth of the cosmetic medical tourism industry in recent years and determine the future growth engines. Unlike previous studies that have focused on cosmetic medical tourism in the United States, Japan, and China, this paper examines the related trends in ASEAN countries, where the interest in cosmetic surgery has recently surged among young people, as part of the efforts to promote the expansion of the industry in this particular region. The results of the empirical study showed that those from the ASEAN region traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery found the medical professional's expertise in cosmetic surgery technology, medical care system, and administrative convenience in relation to communication and accessibility appealing, and this is what led to an intention to visit. As for another process that formed the intention to visit, it was the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance arising from the attractiveness of celebrities, and this had an impact on the intention to visit abroad for cosmetic surgery. Especially it was newly discovered, based on an empirical analysis, that sociocultural attitudes towards the appearance and attractiveness of celebrities could be a key influencing factor when it comes to the intention to visit another country for cosmetic surgery.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.3-22
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• 2021

Civil and commercial disputes can be resolved through alternative dispute settlement systems other than court proceedings. Among them, the arbitration procedure is a system that is clearly distinguished from the mediation procedure in which the dispute is terminated by agreement between the parties. The arbitration proceedings shall have the same effect as the result of the final judgment by the decision of a third-party arbitrator, and its essence is a judgment. The Korean Arbitration Association Studies was founded in December 1990 to recognize the importance of arbitration procedures and conduct specialized research on them, with professional research on 'arbitration procedures' continuing until today. Thus, the Korean Arbitration Association Studies is positioned as the only specialized research organization in the field of arbitration. In the case of the Korean Arbitration Association Studies, which is the only society in Korea related to arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, the members are mainly scholars majoring in trade and commerce and ones majoring in law. This situation reflects the distinctive character of the arbitration system because it is a matter of dispute procedures related to trade and commerce and many scholars who research trade and commerce need to prepare for possible disputes. In addition, the arbitration procedure is a dispute settlement procedure that substitutes for litigation because it has research value as a legal system. In particular, the 'Journal of Arbitration Studies' published by the Korean Arbitration Association plays a role in mediation, as well as mediation and presentation of research papers in the ADR field. This study analyzes the trends of mediation and ADR-related papers published in 'Journal of Arbitration Studies', an academic journal of the Korean Arbitration Association Studies, in four dimensions, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Korean Arbitration Association Studies. First, this study examined which sub-themes are mainly studied among the various viewpoints of mediation through thematic analysis. Second, it looked at what methodology was used to study intervention at the methodological level. Third, it assessed what countries and regions had been mainly studied at the regional level. Fourth, in terms of content, what kind of research had been mainly conducted and what kind of research was relatively insufficient was investigated, analyzing the research results of the last 30 years and presenting a milestone for the research direction of 'Journal of Arbitration Studies' in the future.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.395-418
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• 2009

Appeared in the 1970s he started the global warming problem of carbon reduction, unlike the expected withdrawal of the United States was anticipated to be nominal stripping. However, EU mainly carbon market, buy and sell rights to be disposed of evolution was born. In fact, the current reduction of the Kyoto Protocol, and Korea will be designated as the bureau had been scheduled. However, due to economic recession in Korea's status as exempt countries have enjoyed a considerable period. Global warming is a problem in earnest, however, the United States to participate in one or more such discussions since 2013, clearly this will begin the international order. And international order that is more stringent than expected, and is expected to be strong. Then, however, an interesting thing to justify protection of the environment in some countries to protect domestic industry, the movement is visible is the side. In fact the WTO since the conclusion of all non-tariff trade barriers were abolished. However, recently, New Round of the delay based on reciprocity and fair trade in the framework of environmental protection to justify the movement to protect the domestic industry has been captured. These trends are not friendly, never in Korea. The rationale is that these regulations are enforced, many of our countries and countries with significant trade transactions and the enforcement points. And South Korea's automotive, semiconductors, ships, etc. The main products are much discussed in the international regulations are being referred to as the target point is due. Korean government to actively participate in the international situation and efforts to explore new markets, said yesterday, and 'Low Carbon, Green Growth' was declared. And the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) recommendations of the best 30% reduction target was present. This is nothing different about this objection is true. A more fundamental solution to faithfully perform the reduction targets, while the development of environmentally friendly products and the incidence of international standards through the development and expansion of new growth engines, Indeed we are expected to be a fundamental methodology.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.107-127
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• 2017

This paper aims to analyze comparing the international competitiveness of Korea and China of ICT 10 goods in ASEAN Big 6 countries.(Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines). In this study, we investigate major trends in Korea's ICT goods through various data analysis and evaluate. From 2009 to 2016, As analyzed by ESI, CTB, and EMS, This paper showed Korea has increased its export, EMS and Export Competitiveness to ASEAN. However, due to rapid imports, the trade balance deteriorated and ESI decreased. China showed signs of improvement in international competitiveness, although exports, ESI and EMS were declining. Compared to South Korea, China has seen less export bias to ASEAN. ASEAN is becoming an increasingly important trade partner in Korea's ICT exporting. This paper points out several policy implications drawn from its analyses and findings.