• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 2015

This study compares own-brand exporting SMEs' utilization of various government-run exporting service programs that provided support in searching for overseas distributors, in overseas market research, and in marketing support. Researchers measure how important firms found each of these components of the program, as well as firms' satisfaction with these services, based on the type of product exported (industrial vs. consumer goods) and the level of economic development of the host countries (developed, newly industrialized, and developing.) A total of 245 own-brand exporting SMEs were surveyed and analyzed in this study. Results indicated that KOTRA was the most frequently used organization by the sample SMEs, regardless of the product type and the economic level of host countries. Industrial-goods exporting SMEs found support in searching for overseas distributors more important than consumer-goods exporting SMEs. SMEs exporting to developed countries considered overseas market research and marketing support and searching for overseas distributor programs more important than SMEs exporting to NIE or developing countries. In addition, industrial-goods exporting SMEs were more satisfied with the overseas market research and marketing support and searching for overseas distributor programs than consumer-goods exporting SMEs. However, there were no differences in satisfaction among firms based on the level of economic development of host countries. Several cases of significant correlations between the importance of and satisfaction with the utilization of government exporting service programs were found.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.325-351
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• 2016

This study empirically investigated the relationship among knowledge transfer, network(firm network and government network) and performance Korean MNCs' subsidiaries in terms of absorptive capacity and entry mode roles in China. For this, absorptive capacity was established as an independent variable, mediating variable, and moderating variable. And the entry mode was divided into single investment and joint venture and set to the moderating variable. Data for the analysis of actual proof was randomly selected from the companies which was established more than 3 years before KOTRA 'The overseas expansion Korean company directory (2014)'. Questionnaires to 138 Chinese subsidiaries of Korean MNCs were collected by FAX and E-mail. AMOS was utilized and collected data investigated the role of the absorption capacity and entry mode as the covariance structure analysis. The empirical analysis showed that absorption capacity has a direct influence on management performance as an independent variable with the network (firm network and government network). It only has a partial mediating role between enterprise networks and management performance, and no meaningful result was gained as its moderationg role bewteen the exogenous variable and management performance. And in terms of Korean companies' moderating role in entering China, they have a moderating role between government network, absorption capacity and management performance, but did not show a statistically significant result between knowledge transfer, enterprise network and management performance. Absorption capacity, as the variable affecting overseas subsidiary's management performance, should not be considered a mediating or moderating variable, but an independent variable. Since the joint venture is showing higher performance than single investment when going into the Chinese market, implication is provided for options in overseas expansion. But this research has the limitation in generalization because it is aiming at the subsidiaries of the Korean company investing in China. Therefore, it is more desirable in the future to conduct a study of the subsidiary of the Korean company entering several countries. It also has limitations in generalization, because the research was conducted using a limited number of variables, despite there are various factors affecting the management performance of Chinese subsidiaries.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.427-435
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• 2017

Korea's overseas construction awards reached US $750 bn for more than 50 years since it first entered the market in 1966. In particular, the company won US $540 bn over 10 years from 2007, achieving 72% of the total contracts. However, in recent two years, awarded amounts have decreased by 40% each year. The most significant decline is due to the impact of international oil prices, which have plummeted since end of 2014, as oil-producing nations, which are Korea's major target countries, are struggling to cancel or postpone infrastructure orders. In order to lessen the impact of raw material price fluctuations, the recent trend is that even countries with relatively loose government financing conditions are rapidly changing their ordering methods to investment development forms such as PPP. The Korean government and companies have been already preparing for this for several years, but they are still not doing so well. The main reason is the lack of understanding about the investment development type project, especially financing methods and the aggravated fear of exposing it to various risks due to the characteristics of the development project, which takes a long time to collect the investment. In this paper, I propose a more systematic solution to financial process and risk management, which is recognized as a obstructive factor for Korean companies, in line with the recent government-led establishment of overseas infrastructure development support organizations. I would like to serve as a investment guide.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.57-66
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• 2017

Using bidding data collected from the World Bank's open database, this research performed a series of competitive analyses of the major countries that have participated in the Bank's engineering consulting services contracts in Vietnam. The goal of the analysis was to evaluate the performance of Korean engineering firms to date, and provide strategic recommendations for future projects. Results showed that Korean firms had a high bid acceptance rate, comparable to major developed countries. The success was attributed to the high technical scores in the selection process. Comparatively, financial scores were not competitive and inferior to developing countries such as China and India. Results of a 'Skitmore' analysis revealed that Korea was competitive in medium size projects and were situated between developed and developing countries. Korea thus needs to increase participation in basic and detailed design services, 2) improve labor costs through 'localization' and latest technologies, and 3) and venture into larger sized projects.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.235-253
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• 2016

China has been developing a new auto industry growth plan since 2004. In line with this initiative, China actively adopted its policy favoring foreign companies' investment which had a competitive edge over their technologies and manufacturing methodologies. To meet this demand in policy and market change, many foreign auto companies and their parts' manufacturers including Korean auto companies joined this stream. Policy change favoring higher technologies applicable in China requested auto companies' swift adaptation to meet the policy requirements by higher technologies with innovation and introduction of those foreign technologies to China. The spatial (excellence) strategy was followed by the increase in its efficiency and competiveness of each region, which were materialized by or in the form of; Firstly, strategic partnership with China auto companies and encouragement of Korea auto parts manufacturing companies to set up its own factories in China. Secondly, modularization and platform sharing strategy by applying enhanced technologies. Thirdly, strategic utilization of China local government's incentive policies. As production management methodology, JIS was adopted all across the board to meet the on-demand market requirements in the manufacturing processes. Auto part manufacturers had been integrated regionally based on forward linkages and modules. As a result, regional-specific auto industry complexes have been made in the places such as Beijing-Hyundai in the north, Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia in the south, common auto parts at central area like Qingdao, and other parts and raw materials in the vicinity of Shanghai.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.119-131
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• 2015

The rise of K-Pop in the latecomer environment is unusual. There is little research on K-Pop from the catch-up perspective though it would yield some insight into a strategic direction of creative industries in the latecomer environment. Thus, this study aims to compare the firm capability, market development, and product strategy of K-Pop firms with ones of manufacturing firms during the catch-up period. It reveals first that K-Pop firms developed project execution capability to carry out discrete projects effectively by adopting in-house (vertical) system in music production and increasing the size of firms. Second, they pursued global market and utilized the window of opportunities based on a proven music genre. Third, K-Pop firms pursued the incremental innovation in the product development. Since these characteristics have many similarities with the catch-up strategy in the manufacturing sector, Korean catch-up experience could provide valuable insight into the development of creative industries in Korea.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.1049-1064
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• 2013

This study aims to seek effective measures centering on developing countries that can export Korea's e-Government ranked the first place two times in a row (2010 and 2012) in the United Nations' e-Government Survey. Up to the present, individual ministries or agencies have made efforts to export systems or services related to e-Government, but it is judged that comprehensive and systematic approaches have not been sufficient. This study, therefore, has been intended to find realistic mid- and long-term strategies and supporting methods that can promote Korean-type e-Government exports by analyzing problems identified in the strategies implemented by the current ministries or agencies for assisting enterprises engaged in e-Government exports. In addition, this study as an empirical one has been intended to diagnose improvement points by analyzing e-Government exporting strategies executed by existing government ministries and agencies, suggest methods for filling in gaps between as-is and to-be models, and seek timely and effective measures in the future.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.163-190
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• 2009

This study tries to analyze the investment determinants of Chinese firms in local Korea, where the Chinese investing ones have been operating since in the middle of 1990s. The main purpose can be mentioned to test empirically some relations between the investment determinants of Chinese firms and the investment types. In detail speaking, the dependent variables of investment types are classified with sole venture and joint venture, while the independent ones are sorted based on the previous studies with the 2 following factors like the competitive advantages of Chinese firms, and the location advantages of local Korea. This study is conducted as the following: the survey of Chinese firms engaging in investment activities in there is implemented by collecting questionnaires. And for testing the hypothesis, the path analysis of structural equation modeling is activated with SPSS. 12.0 and AMOS 11.0 for windows.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.247-279
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• 2017

Korean firms are faced with the necessity of creating new markets in 21st century. Korean economy has witnessed the accelerated growth rate of trade volume during the period from the latter part of 20th century to the early part of 21st century. In recent times, Korean export volumes have been stagnated. For the second take off, Korea has to create a new ASEAN BOP market. In order to penetrate into the ASEAN BOP Market, it is necessary for exporting firms to have a partnership with ASEAN countries via ODA. In particular, Public-Private Partnership(PPP) might be seen as an effective tool to access the BOP market in ASEAN region. The international development cooperation based on PPP will establish the humanitarian values as well as economic values through the combined effort of government and business enterprises. This study suggests four kinds of business model to have a mutual cooperation between Korean firms and ASEAN markets.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.315-333
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• 2011

Korea and China have a similar agricultural background and they have an analogical culture and custom of food. In addition, they are located close. Thus, their agricultural sectors easily have effected each other. The purpose of this study is to review the history and situation of Chinese agribusiness, to analyze the status of Chinese investing policy which is varied after China joining in WTO, and to suggest the ways that Korean companies can successfully invest in the Chinese agribusiness sector. In addition, we explore the cases that foreign companies in Hongkong invest in the Chinese agribusiness sector. Korean companies must have a special knowledge about Chinese laws and custom of business. They also have to make a good partners who help their business. Second, before Korean companies investing in the Chinese agribusiness sector, they must carefully choice investing items. These items have to satisfy several conditions, accessing to international market as well as Chinese market and that politic assistance of Chines government is rendered. Third, when Korean companies invest in the Chinese agribusiness sector, the scale of invest would better not be large. In addition, Korean companies have to make a joint-venture company in China and build vertical integration.