A study on the technological and locational changes of textile industry in Korea

韓國 纖維工業의 技術變化와 立地에 관한 연구

The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the technological changes on locational changes on the assumption that technological changes cover over all industrial sectors. The study is carred on 1) To investigate the theoretical backgrounds of the technological and locational changes and their problems. 2) To investigate the location and economic characteristics of the Korean textile industry. 3) To investigate the technological development and regional variations in technological level. 4) To the relationship of the technological change to the location of the textile industries. The locational change of the Korean textile industries have been closely related to economic characteristics. In the begining stage of development in the 1950's, thetextile industries were largely concentrated in the major cities(Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Masan et. al.). In the growing stage of development in the 1960's, the textile industries were relocated in suburban areas with the trend of large corporations building their branch plants of chemical fibers in the suburbs. With the expansion in the export industry in the 1970's, the textile companies were distributed throughout the whole country. But the research and development(R&D) activities caused the textile industries reconcentrate around Seoul and Pusan, owining to the change of the economic environments in the 1980's. The 1980's have witnessed the increased R&D investment for the development of better new and value-added products. This was because the technological level was much higher than that of Taegu and Other regions. What is more, plant birth location and branch plant location support that locational changes of textile industry were caused by technological changes. Plant birth location put stress technological environments of region, compared with branch plant locaiton. Accordingly, the technological changes of industry can be an important factor in locational changes. Through this study, it can be seen that locational changes come from technological changes. Other locational factors influence the industrial locations, but regional variations in technological level which has been relatively ignored has to be considered on the location study. Together with the accomplishments of existing location study, the study on technological change and location can better explain the location phenomena. And further research on technological change and location can provide better policy implications for regional development.