• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.141-177
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• 2011

I. Research Objectives: Most of the previous studies on diffusion have concentrated on efficacy of WOM communication with the use of variables at individual level (Iacobucci 1996; Midgley et al. 1992). However, there is a paucity of studies which investigated network's structural properties as antecedents of WOM from the perspective of consumers' sociocultural propensities. Against this research backbone, this study attempted to link the network's structural properties and consumer' WOM behavior on cross-national basis. The major research objective of this study was to examine the relationship between network properties and WOM by comparing Korean and Chinese consumers. Specific objectives of this research are threefold; firstly, it sought to examine whether network properties (i.e., tie strength, centrality, range) affect WOM (WOM intention and quality of WOM). Secondly, it aimed to explore the moderating effects of cutural orientation (uncertainty avoidance and individuality) on the relationship between network properties and WOM. Thirdly, it substantiates the role of innovativeness as antecedents to both network properties and WOM. II. Research Hypotheses: Based on the above research objectives, the study put forth the following research hypotheses to validate. ${\cdot}$ H 1-1 : The Strength of tie between two counterparts within network will positively influence WOM effectivenes ${\cdot}$ H 1-2 : The network centrality will positively influence the WOM effectiveness ${\cdot}$ H 1-3 : The network range will positively influence the WOM effectiveness ${\cdot}$ H 2-1 : The consumer's uncertainty avoidance tendency will moderate the relationship between network properties and WOM effectiveness ${\cdot}$ H 2-2 : The consumer's individualism tendency will moderate the relationship between network properties and WOM effectiveness ${\cdot}$ H 3-1 : The consumer's innovativeness will positively influence the social network properties ${\cdot}$ H 3-2 : The consumer's innovativeness will positively influence WOM effectiveness III. Methodology: Through a pilot study and back-translation, two versions of questionnaire were prepared, one in Korean and the other in Chinese. The chinese data were collected from the chinese students enrolled in language schools in Suwon city in Korea, while Korean data were collected from students taking classes in a major university in Seoul. A total of 277 questionnaire were used for analysis of Korean data and 212 for Chinese data. The reason why Chinese students living in Korea rather than in China were selected was based on two factors: one was to neutralize the differences (ie, retail channel availability) that may arise from living in separate countries and the second was to minimize the difference in communication venues such as internet accessibility and cell phone usability. SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 7.0 were used for analysis. IV. Results: Prior to hypothesis verification, mean differences between the two countries in terms of major constructs were performed with the following result; As for network properties (tie strength, centrality and range), Koreans showed higher scores in all three constructs. For cultural orientation traits, Koreans scored higher only on uncertainty avoidance trait than Chinese. As a result of verifying the first research objective, confirming the relationship between network properties and WOM effectiveness, on Korean side, tie strength(Beta=.116; t=1.785) and centrality (Beta=.499; t=6.776) significantly influenced on WOM intention, and similar finding was obtained for Chinese side, with tie strength (Beta=.246; t=3.544) and centrality (Beta=.247; t=3.538) being significant. However, with regard to WOM argument quality, Korean data yielded only centrality (Beta=.82; t=7.600) having a significant impact on WOM, whereas China showed both tie strength(Beat=.142; t=2.052) and centrality(Beta=.348; t=5.031) being influential. To answer for the second research objective addressing the moderating role of cultural orientation, moderated regression anaylsis was performed and the result showed that uncertainty avoidance moderated between network range and WOM intention for both Korea and China, But for Korea, the uncertainty avoidance moderated between tie strength and WOM quality, while for China it moderated between network range and WOM intention. And innovativeness moderated between tie strength and WOM intention for Korea but it moderated between network range and WOM intention for China. As a result of analysing for third research objective, we found that for Korea, innovativeness positively influenced centrality only (Beta=.546; t=10.808), while for China it influenced both tie strength (Beta=.203; t=2.998) and centrality(Beta=.518; t=8.782). But for both countries alike, the innovativeness influenced positively on WOM (WOM intention and WOM quality). V. Implications: The study yields the two practical implications. Firstly, the result suggests that companies targeting multinational customers need to identify segments which are susceptible to the positive WOM and WOM information based on individual traits such as uncertainty avoidance and individualism and based on that, develop marketing communication strategy. Secondly, the companies need to divide the market on Roger's five innovation stages and based on this information, enforce marketing strategy which utilizes social networking tools such as public media and WOM. For instance, innovator and early adopters, if provided with new product information, will be able to capitalize upon the network advantages and thus add informational value to network operations using SNS or corporate blog.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2017

Purpose - In align with the increasing competition in both online and offline franchise markets caused by the increasing impact of social networking service, entrepreneurial passion(EP) of the franchise owners has crucial impact on the stakeholders. This study proposed the customer among stakeholders has the critical influence firm's success and examined the structural relationship between entrepreneurial passion(EP) and trust, identification, and loyalty from the customer's perspective. Research design, data, and methodology - This study examines the structural relationship between entrepreneurial passion(EP), trust, identification, and loyalty from the customer's perspective. More specifically, the EP were measured using three sub-dimensions such as EP-inventing(Perceived passion for inventing), EP-founding(Perceived passion for foundting), and EP-developing(Perceived passion for developing). In order to verify the research purposes, research model and hypotheses were developed. All constructs were measured with multiple items developed and tested in the previous studies. Each item was measured on a 7 point Likert-scale anchored by '1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree'. The data were collected from 449 franchise consumers through online survey and were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and Smart PLS 3.0. statistical program. Result - The results of this study are as follows. First, EP-inventing and EP-developing have significant impacts on corporate trust. Second, EP-founding does not have significant impact on corporate trust. Third, EP-inventing and EP-founding have significant impacts on consumer identification. Fourth, EP-developing does not have impact on identification directly, but does indirectly through corporate trust as a mediator. Fifth, corporate trust and identification have significant impacts on loyalty. Conclusions - This indicates that the foodservice franchise CEOs should continuously develop new menus and service to fulfill customer needs. EP-inventing of the food franchise CEOs may enhance customer trust for higher quality of product or service, and EP-developing can also be a driving force for customer trust as it embeds belief in customers that the franchise is sustainably developing. Also, food franchise CEOs should first clarify the support process for the existing brands before developing new ones. Customers tend to lead the trend by using brands that satisfy new trends in the foodservice franchise market, and it could have identification with the trend-setting franchise. Customers do not accept if a company is different from their personal image or norms. So the franchise CEOs must create identification with customers by building corporate trust. Corporate trust influences consumer behavior and emotion, thus the franchises need to secure trust by improving product or service continuously.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.128-145
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• 2010

Nowadays people are turning to have a more intimate environment-friendly lifestyles. In the clothing industry they are focusing on making products that are more human-friendly and not harmful to the environment. In the midst of the spread of consumption research is being done to develop manufacturing textiles that do not induce pollution. For instance, advantages of the natural textile fibers, cotton, silk, and ramie, have been newly recognized in terms of environment-friendliness, Together with these fibers, the natural high molecular materials, such as chitosan and hyaluronic acid, have found new roles in the application sectors of human-friendliness and environment-friendliness. Products using these substances and processing methods can make the products more wearable, have high sensitivity, make people feel aesthetic appreciation for the products, and make them appreciate the value of a more healthier environment. In a survey according to subjects in their 20s and 30s, their preferences towards their consciousness and awareness of the development of materials as well as their attitude towards environment-friendly products were determined as a conclusion. It was shown that consumers that are more conscious about the interest of the environment as well as the problems concerning the environment were more intent on buying products that were environmentally-friendly. Women have shown more active and positive attitudes towards the importance of the awareness of the environment in comparison with men. Generally, consumers in their 20s and 30s preferred the feel of materials that were less than 1% concentration process than those of materials that were 1% concentration process. To increase the "rustly" feeling of the materials, it was found that 1% concentration process was suitable for manufacturing.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.32-51
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• 2016

KakaoTalk has become a reputed mobile social network and an inseparable part of people's lives by leading the mobile industry in South Korea. However, there is a lack of studies in academia regarding perception of the consumers and assessment toward the mobile marketing and services by KakaoTalk. Based on the theoretical orientation of Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM: Petty & Cacioppo, 1986) and electronic service quality (E-S-QUAL: Parasuraman, Zeithaml, & Malhotra, 2005), this study investigates the effects of information sources (Charles & Richard, 1988), and examines the consumer perception toward the service quality of KakaoTalk. A total of 209 responses were collected, using a self-administered survey in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, South Korea from March 2015 to June 2015. A seven-point Likert scale survey was developed to measure the information sources (i.e., argument quality, post popularity, and post attractiveness), electronic service quality (i.e., efficiency, fulfillment, privacy, and system availability), attitude (i.e., usefulness, preference, and overall attitude), and behavioral intention (i.e., like intention, share intention, and purchase intention). This study reveals a consensus that an online environment is different from the traditional retail context in terms of information source and service quality. Specifically, the results indicate that argument quality greatly impacts the attitudes of the individuals and their behavioral intention toward mobile shopping via social media channel. The most powerful factor among E-S-QUAL is "efficiency." This dimension of service quality influences the customer perception of usefulness and preference as well as share and like intention toward mobile shopping on KakaoTalk.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 1999

The World Association for Sexology (WAS) will adopt a Declaration of Sexual Rights as basic and fundamental human rights August this year in Hong Kong. Two years ago WAS has been developing a Declaration of Sexual Rights in order to further promote sexual health and protect the sexual rights of everyone. Undoubtedly sexuality is one of the most intriguing subjects in the area of human behavior and psychology, and has been so since antiquity. The influence of sexual factors of human on all aspects of the society has been immense. The varieties of marriage, from traditional to the open marriage model are presented in front of our sight. The influences of women's movement in Korea, which has produced sexual, psychological, economic, political, familial and social changes look so small and the changes are not that much in America. But the profound effects of the women's movement affect on Korean society being realized as man's view of woman and woman's view of herself undergo constant change and reevaluation. With increased sexual awareness on the part of the public owing to mass media, for example AH-U-SEONG aired in TV and with increased emphasis on sexual matters in daily life, more and more physicians are being asked to deal with and manage sex-related problems in their daily practice. Yet, despite the obvious need for informed sexual counseling, doctors are often uncomfortable about sexual matters and many physicians have no special expertise in this area. So physicians concerned in sexology especially such as gynecologists, urologists, psychiatrists and endocrinologists must realize well about sex-related knowledge which is needed for counseling the patient as medical consumer and gap between reality and ideality in sexual diagnosis and treatment. Establishment of management system for the people who have sexual problems is strongly needed to promote sexual health and protect the sexual rights of everyone and for the Sexual Rights as basic and fundamental human rights.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-80
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• 2008

The contemporary consumers have insatiable desires for material and outward appearance. In terms of the desire for outward appearance, people recognize that a beautiful outward appearance can be made by an artificial effort. Subsequently, the interest in a beauty and fashion has been increased. In addition, a cable TV shows a beauty and fashion program targeted for women in 20s to 30s. This study tried to examine the stories on experience of consumption by consumers watching a beauty and fashion program in a women specialized channel of a cable TV. The total number of narrators who participated in this study was 11. Among them, we formed 26 narrative plots on the basis of interviews for 7 persons who could use Labov's structural analysis. The result of analyzing narrators' narrative plots was as follows: First, although narrators received the information on beauty and fashion through a channel which became the target of this study, they applied such information into an ordinary life by transforming such information. Second, narrators thought that their confidence and superiority could be expressed through a beauty and fashion. Third, narrators' consuming life showed a showing off-type consumption and an objective consumption. Fourth, narrators have a gap between the behavior orientation and real actions. And they experiences various trobles on consumption life. Fifth, through the interview for narrators, a trend of reconsidering their consuming life was found out.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.395-403
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• 2016

This study investigates SNS usage behaviors of SNS users with a change of SNS use environment and an increase of users. This study compares the difference of use motivation, preferred type, and main use SNS according to socio-demographic variable of SNS users using cross tabulation analysis and also conducts a comparative analysis of main use SNS of each SNS user using correspondence analysis. The results show main use motivation of SNS is relationship seek, most preferred type is closed type, and main use SNS is Kakaostory. Next, we find that there are differences on use motivation, preferred type, and main use SNS, depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of SNS users. The result of correspondence analysis shows how users are using SNS services and what structure their competitive relations of SNS services are made. In the conclusion, the study presents summary of the findings, implications, and tasks for further studies.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.960-971
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to observe street fashion, to determine preferred design of jean and to analyze preferred jean styling based on types of jean pants design, toward 20s to 30s women. We observed outfits of jean styles on the street using photography method and conducted a survey to 400 females to get information of consumers. Four hundred questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS. As a result of street research, the majority of people were wearing jean pants with T-shirts, sandal/high heel shoes and totes. The results of market research showed that preferred jean styles were significantly associated with age and marital status. Preferred color of jean pants was also significantly associated with age variable. Current popular jean style was a skinny style. We evaluated results of styling with different jean pants, creating five different images. There was a significant relationship between age/marital status and styling image in different jean styles. In a bootcut style, age variable was significantly associated with different styling images. Generally, most of people responded cute/casual image styling was the best for the bootcut style. In skinny pants, there was a significant association between a residence area and a styling image. Modern/chic image styling with skinny pants was the most favored one. In cropped jean pants, marital status was significantly associated with styling image created. We realized that we can create different images through a styling.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 2010

For us, there is virtually no distinction between being a responsible citizen and a successful business... they are one and the same for Wal-Mart today." ~ Lee Scott, al-Mart CEO after the 2005 Katrina disaster; cited in Green to Gold (Esty and Winston 2006). Lee Scott's statement signaled a new era in sustainability as manufacturers and retailers around the globe watched the world's largest mass merchandiser confirm its intentions with respect to sustainability. For decades, the environmental movement has grown, slowly bleeding over into the corporate world. Companies have been born, products have been created, academic journals have been launched, and government initiatives have been undertaken - all in the pursuit of sustainability (Peattie and Crane 2005). While progress has been admittedly slower than some may desire, the emergence and entrance of environmentally concerned mass merchandisers has done much to help with sustainable efforts. To better understand this movement, we incorporate the perspectives of both executives and consumers involved in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. This research relies on three underlying themes: (1) Conceptual and anecdotal evidence suggests that companies undertake sustainability initiatives for a plethora of reasons, (2) The number of sustainability initiatives continues to increase in the consumer packaged goods industries, and (3) That it is, therefore, necessary to explore the role that sustainability plays in the minds of consumers. In light of these themes, surveys were administered to and completed by 143 college students and 101 business executives to assess a number of variables in regards to sustainability including willingness-to-pay, behavioral intentions, attitudes, willingness-to-pay, and preferences. Survey results indicate that the top three reasons why executives believe sustainability to be important include (1) the opportunity for profitability, (2) the fulfillment of an obligation to the environment, and (3) a responsibility to customers and shareholders. College students identified the top three reasons as (1) a responsibility to the environment, (2) an indebtedness to future generations, and (3) an effective management of resources. While the rationale for supporting sustainability efforts differed between college students and executives, the executives and consumers reported similar responses for the majority of the remaining sustainability issues. Furthermore, when we asked consumers to assess the importance of six key issues (healthcare, economy, education, crime, government spending, and environment) previously identified as important to consumers by Gallup Poll, protecting the environment only ranked fourth out of the six (Carlson 2005). While all six of these issues were identified as important, the top three that emerged as most important were (1) improvements in education, (2) the economy, and (3) health care. As the pursuit and incorporation of sustainability continues to evolve, so too will the expected outcomes. New definitions of performance that reflect the social/business benefits as well as the lengthened implementation period are relevant and warranted (Ehrenfeld 2005; Hitchcock and Willard 2006). We identified three primary categories of outcomes based on a literature review of both anecdotal and conceptual expectations of sustainability: (1) improvements in constituent satisfaction, (2) differentiation opportunities, and (3) financial rewards. Within each of these categories, several specific outcomes were identified resulting in eleven different outcomes arising from sustainability initiatives. Our survey results indicate that the top five most likely outcomes for companies that pursue sustainability are: (1) green consumers will be more satisfied, (2) company image will be better, (3) corporate responsibility will be enhanced, (4) energy costs will be reduced, and (5) products will be more innovative. Additionally, to better understand the interesting intersection between the environmental "identity" of a consumer and the willingness to manifest that identity with marketplace purchases, we extended prior research developed by Experian Research (2008). Accordingly, respondents were categorized as one of four types of green consumers (Behavioral Greens, Think Greens, Potential Greens, or True Browns) to garner a better understanding of the green consumer in addition to assisting with a more effective interpretation of results. We assessed these consumers' willingness to engage in eco-friendly behavior by evaluating three options: (1) shopping at retailers that support environmental initiatives, (2) paying more for products that protect the environment, and (3) paying higher taxes so the government can support environmental initiatives. Think Greens expressed the greatest willingness to change, followed by Behavioral Greens, Potential Greens, and True Browns. These differences were all significant at p<.01. Further Conclusions and Implications We have undertaken a descriptive study which seeks to enhance our understanding of the strategic domain of sustainability. Specifically, this research fills a gap in the literature by comparing and contrasting the sustainability views of business executives and consumers with specific regard to preferences, intentions, willingness-to-pay, behavior, and attitudes. For practitioners, much can be gained from a strategic standpoint. In addition to the many results already reported, respondents also reported than willing to pay more for products that protect the environment. Other specific results indicate that female respondents consistently communicate a stronger willingness than males to pay more for these products and to shop at eco-friendly retailers. Knowing this additional information, practitioners can now have a more specific market in which to target and communicate their sustainability efforts. While this research is only an initial step towards understanding similarities and differences among practitioners and consumers regarding sustainability, it presents original findings that contribute to both practice and research. Future research should be directed toward examining other variables affecting this relationship, as well as other specific industries.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.133-150
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• 1996

This study is to clarify the market cycle of travelling merchants and the spatial behavior of consumer's commodity purchasing. its reasons and purchasing region of each commodity in Chongsan of Chongsan Myun(village) periodic markets, that is one of the lowest central places in Okchon county. The data used are the results of interviews with 58 travelling merchants on June 22 and July 17, 1994, and questionaire survey taken to parents of students of Chongsan middle school of Chongsan Myun in Okchon county. Study area is typical agricultural regions taking the role of central places to provide rural service and is comparatively important periodic markets. Some of findings are summarized as follows: (1) Until 1980's. appearance of closed periodic markets is caused by the population decrease in rural region, income increase, and rising of living level according to the Five Years Planning of Economic Development, appearance of chain stores of agricultural co-coperative and of supermarkets,. changes in distribution mechanisim by increasing consignment volume of agricultural products through agricultural co-coperative, and the development of transportation in Okchon county. These, too, became the reasons for the decline of the Chongsan periodic markets in Okchon county. (2) Most of the travelling merchants visiting the Chongsan periodic markets are in their 50's of age, and they sell the miscellaneous commodities and agricultural products. And about one-fourths of travelling merchants reside in regions with periodic markets and in Okchon of higher order central places. (3) Travelling routes visting periodic markets can be simplified to five types. Major types of travelling routes are Chongsan periodic market$\rightarrow$Wonnam$\rightarrow$Boun, and Chongsan periodic market$\rightarrow$Yungdong$\rightarrow$Yongsan. The patterns of travelling merchants visiting periodic markets are classified into the type of everyday visiting of periodic markets over three days of five days from merchant's residence to market, and the type of merchants or consumers visiting one day's of five days. On days that travelling merchants don't visit periodic markets they purchase the commodities in Seoul, Taejon and Chongju. (4) Consumers who use periodic markets are from thirties to fifties years of age and most of them are employed in agriculture. Consumers visit periodic markets on foot or by bus, and visit two or three times in a month, and mainly purchase the commodities for one or two hours from about ten o'clock in the morning. (5) Consumers purchase the necessaries of life in periodic markets, and other commodities are purchased in Taejon city, Youngdong, and Boun Eup(town). But consumers purchase the goods(convenience goods, shopping goods, and specialied goods) largerly in Chongsan, because additional expense and disadvantage after service with poor transportation service for purchased goods in others regions. Therefore, the hierarchies of central places by the consumer's purchasing behaviour can not be seem in dewellers in Chongsan and Chongseong Myun.