• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.54-79
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• 1998

Entering the 1990s, Korean economies experienced the high-cost and low-efficiency situation which evetually caused many Korean firms led to relocate their production facilities to lower labor cost countries. This paper aims to draw out the characteristics of FDI and to evaluate the impacts of FDI in manufacturing sectors. Firstly, we try to categorize the indutries into three groups, labor intensive, capital intensive, and the technology intensive industries figuring out the characteristics of FDI of Korean firms. Secondly, we compare the three categories by grouping high and low foreign investment areas using value added data. Thirdly, we analyse the impacts of foreign production relocation the number of firms, production volume and jobs creation in Korea during the period 1991-1996. This paper concludes that the FDI of Korean firms concentrates to labor intensive industry and the hollowing effect caused by FDI was observed partially in the labor intensive industry.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.107-123
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• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Granger Causality relations between Korean FDI and exports in Vietnam using time-series from 2005 to 2019. Using 15-industry semi-annual data of Korean FDI and exports toward Vietnam, the Granger Causality Tests were conducted. Var and VEC models were decided after unit-root and cointegration tests of variables. Findings and implications of the empirical tests are as follows. First, unexpectedly FDI did not Grange-cause exports only in one direction. In two industries, food & beverage and medical & chemical products, there were Granger causality relations in both directions. In eight industries including print, publishig, pulp & paper, exports did Grange-cause FDI. In the rest of five industries including automative & trailer industry, there were no Granger Causality relation in both directions. Second, we presume that the both direction-causality relations are desirable phenomenon for Korea. Because Korean FDI and exports are increasing at the same time. On the other hand, substitution relationship between Korea's exports and FDI occur in the industry that exports did Grange-cause FDI. Finally, more in-depth researches considering Vietnam's consumer demand and the oriented characteristics of FDI are needed. The results of this research will contribute to understand structural patterns of FDI and exports in Vietnam and to make investment and export decisions.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-174
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• 2021

This paper empirically examines whether and how inward foreign direct investment (FDI) affected industrial productivity in Korea during the 2000-2016 period, based on dynamic panel data of inflow FDI on an arrival basis from 427 manufacturing industries. The paper adds to the literature by analyzing whether both technology spillovers and industrial restructuring from inward FDI can differ according to industrial characteristics such as capital intensity, imported intermediate inputs, and tariffs. The empirical results show that the overall effects of inward FDI on total factor productivity (TFP) were statistically insignificant in general. However, the positive effects of inward FDI on productivity became statistically significant for industries with lower tariffs. Capital intensity were not involved in the relationship between inward FDI and productivity. Thus, the paper highlights that the results in previous studies with inward FDI on a notification basis were overestimated and inward FDI policies in Korea should focus on channels such as trade liberalization and the redistribution of production factors rather than capital accumulation.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.253-268
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• 2019

This paper analyses the characteristics of partner countries when multinational firms of Korea, China, and Japan make greenfield FDI in foreign countries. Particularly, this paper applies the gravity model for greenfield FDI flows for the period 2003-2017. This paper finds that multinational firms of Korea, as compared to those of China and Japan, are very significantly and negatively responsive to political risks of partner countries. In contrast, multinational firms of Korea as well as those of China and Japan tend to make greater amounts of greenfield FDI in financially high-risk countries. This result indicates that multinational firms from these three countries should take financial risks of partner countries into more serious consideration.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.23-40
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• 2023

Purpose - This study aims to present the changes and directions in the automotive supply chain in the face of changes in the global supply chain caused by external factors and the integration of industries resulting from internal factors. Assuming FDI in the Korean automotive industry in the US, this study analyzed the influential factors over the long term and derived the optimal location. Design/methodology - For this analysis, the characteristics and current status of the automotive industry are presented. Additionally, the study emphasizes the necessity and direction of change. The factors influencing Korea-US FDI in the automotive industry and the electric vehicle industry were analyzed through panel analysis. The optimal location from the perspective of distribution costs was selected using linear programming under the assumption that local demand will be replaced by local production in the future. Findings - This study found that the electric vehicle supply chain will change with the characteristics of the electric and electronic industries rather than with the traditional automotive industry. Additionally, in deriving the optimal location, the study emphasized the proximity to the consumption market. Originality/value - The analysis method and conclusions of this study not only present the influential factors and direction of FDI in the automotive industry but also can be applied to other industries. Moreover, the study provides practical and policy implications for industries and governments considering FDI in the US.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.637-665
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• 2009

Since the globalization of the world economy in the 1990s, capital transfer and investment soared, which caused FDI and the effect of FDI on country competitiveness to increase. This study compared and examined how Korea, China and Japan's FDI developed throughout history and what characteristics they show. For the study, we considered country, firm and industry level factors by using institutional based perspective, resource based perspective and industry based perspective, and the derived the following results. Firstly, institutional factors are the main factors that led FDI in the three countries. Secondly, while Korea and Japan have a similar path in changing investment motives, China shows the opposite path. Thirdly, the growth rate of FDI scale changes due to the three countries' factor conditions and demand conditions.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.63-80
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• 2020

Purpose - Recent empirical studies have shown that FDI is expected to be strongly associated with democratic governance, political stability, and sound macroeconomic conditions of the host country. We attempt to take it a step further to see if governments implement a major change in institutional characteristics, will the institutional reform toward better governance have a substantive effect in enhancing FDI inflows. This paper thus aims to analyze the importance of good governance as an important factor in the attractiveness of FDI inflows in ASEAN+3 (Korea, China, Japan) countries. Design/methodology - To determine the effects of good governance on FDI inflows across ASEAN+3 countries recorded between 1996-2018, the Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) are used to investigate the impact of good governance on FDI inflows. The model has been estimated by using fixed effects to show the robustness of the results. Findings - Our main findings can be summarized as follows: Political Stability, Rule of Law, and Voice and Accountability have a statistically significant impact on the inflow of FDI in the ASEAN+3 Countries, especially for Korean economy. Moreover, GDP growth continue to exert their positive influence. However, Regulatory Quality, Government Effectiveness and Control of Corruption, though equally important, are insignificant to attract FDI inflows. The key finding is that good governance has a significant impact on inward FDI in the ASEAN+3 countries. Originality/value - Existing studies focus on the impact of political factors on FDI across countries. This paper instead attempts to investigate which type of good governance is the most important in promoting FDI inflows across ASEAN+3 countries, which is essential for multinationals to consider when choosing a foreign site as a possible FDI destination.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.47-67
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine factors of FDI inflows which positively influence economic development. While MNCs ultimately decide on which country to engage in FDI, it can be affected by the general investment environment of host countries. Thus, it may be closely linked to national macro socio-economic factors. In the fixed-effect panel regression analysis using 30 years of data of 13 developed countries and 15 developing countries, results indicate that labor redemption exerts the greatest influence on global FDI inflows; this implies that FDI decisions are based on locations featuring higher productivity by the reduction of labor costs. According to the level of economic development, the motive of FDI inflows differs. In developed countries, GDP, government expenditure and consumer expenditure exert the greatest influence on FDI inflows; which shows characteristics of market seeking and horizontal investment. However, in developing countries, labor redemption and human capital exert the greatest influence on FDI inflows; which shows characteristics of efficiency seeking and vertical investment.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 2012

This paper is the first paper of two linked papers about the FDI of the economic infrastructure-related public companies. This paper analyzes overseas investments of infrastructure public companies which is characterized by state control and support of socio-economic facilities and services. In theoretical consideration the genealogy and characteristics of FDI are examined, and then global FDI trends since 1970, institutional changes and FDI trends in Korea are analyzed. This analysis shows that the globalization of large state-owned enterprises or public companies from developing and transition economies constitutes an important component of FDI and new emerging source of FDI. Finally the objects and strategies of large 10 infrastructure public companies are analyzed in perspectives of features having both advanced and developing economies type.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.119-134
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• 2022

A new protectionism caused by the US-China competition and a following new Cold War would have a negative impact on global FDI. In this time, this study researched the effects of the long lasting global openness and liberalization on Korea's Inward FDI. 1,387 foreign invested companies in Korea were analyzed. The results are summarized as follows. First, Korea's FDI has been expanded under the environment of globalization. The IFDI amount and share in GDP increased. Seven countries out of the world top 10 were listed in Korea' the top 10. However, the share of the US and Japan's FDI in Korea's IFDI decreased. Second, non-manufacturing industry became prevalent in Korea's IFDI. Considering it's local market-oriented characteristics, the biggest investment motivation by global companies was Korean market pursuit. The US was more local market-oriented than Japan. Third, cross-border M&A, which became active in developed countries since 1980s, also kicked off in Korea from late 1990s. Global companies managed foreign-invested companies in Korea with shares close to wholly owned. The US had higher share ratios than Japan. The implications by this research are as follows. First, looming protectionism by a New Cold War would negatively affect Korea's IFDI through the adverse function of globalization. Second, Korea's IFDI has been converted to a market pursuit type being mainly leaded by non-manufacturing industry. Since GDP is the largest FDI motive in this type of FDI, the key policy for IFDI promotion is lying in the expansion of domestic market rather than deregulation.