Korean Customer Attitudes Towards Retail Regulations

Purpose - This study is to identify how the retail regulations influence customer shopping behaviours and furthermore, whether the Store Closing Act really protects independent retailers as well as traditional markets in Korea. Research design, data, and methodology - By adopting frequency analysis and factor analysis method, the research achieved research objectives. Before a field survey, the authors pre-tested the questionnaire developed, based on similar previous articles, and finalized. Amongst the 353 questionnaires distributed, 332 were returned. It means the response rate is 94.5%. Furthermore, available questionnaires are 330. Results - Rather than stimulating customers to more frequently visit public markets, the regulation has provoked new customer shopping behaviours. In other words, some consumers tend to shop in big box retailers before or after a store closing day, whereas others are likely to stop shopping. What is important is that customers do not patronise small retailers and conventional markets, thanks to the Store Closing Act. Conclusions - In order to keep retailers and public markets independent, the researchers suggest that the government should introduce new techniques without impeding the growth of a retailing sector.