• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.351-362
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• 2003

The goal of this study was to examine the effects of perceived risks toward GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) food on the decision-making to purchase it and demands to reveal its Identity. The major results were as follows. First, consumers strongly perceived the risk toward GMO food, and demanded labeling to identify it. But, many consumers had indecisive in the purchase of GMO food. Second, consumers with high level of perceived risks toward GMO food were more likely not to buy GMO food. In addition, the level of perceived risk was high among consumers who had many children. Finally, consumers with high level of perceived risks toward GMO food were more likely to demand the labelling for identifying GMO food. Consumers who had many children and high level of reliability for labelling food safety strongly demanded to label for revealing GMO food.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.309-325
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• 2023

GMO labeling system in South Korea stipulates three labeling methods: GMO labeling, no labeling and Non-GMO labeling. Products labeled as Non-GMO are not allowed for unintentional commingling of GMO without tolerance. However, consumers vary their acceptance of Non-GMO label on the unintentionally commingled products and willingness to pay according to the mixing rate, rather than devalue the whole products as useless. Additionally, consumers do not believe that the acceptable mixing rate should be discriminated between non-labeled products, which allow up to 3% of unintentional GMO contamination, and Non-GMO labeled products. Information on unintentional GMO mixing mainly refers to the mixing rate, but the Non-GMO content remaining even after commingling is also important information. The decline in value is alleviated when consumers are exposed to positive information, such as Non-GMO content, rather than when exposed to negative information, such as the mixing rate. Loss Aversion Coefficient is relative depending on whether the information representing the loss is positive or negative. Information that a Non-GMO labeled product contains X% GMO is more sensitive than information that (100-X)% Non-GMO remains.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.69-77
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• 2003

The goal of this study was to examine which factors influence consumers' demands to reveal the identity of GMO(Genetically Modified Organism) food, risk perception, and decision-making to purchase it. Consumers perceived its risk, and demanded labeling to identify it. Not many consumers wanted to buy GMO food. The results also revealed as follows. First, the level of demand to label for identifying GMO food were high among female consumers, consumers with negative attitude, and consumers severly perceived its risk. The level of perceived risk was high among consumers who were old and had high income, exercised their own healthy programs, showed negative attitude toward GMO food, and demanded strongly for labelling. Second, old consumers, consumers with high income, consumers concerning more about health, consumers with negative attitude and strong demand to label for identifying GMO food were more likely to perceive risk highly for GMO food. Third, consumers' attitudes and the level of perceived risks for GMO food significantly influenced the decision-making to purchase GMO food. However, other variables turned out not to affect consumers' decision-making to purchase it.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.338-344
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• 2009

This study analyzed consumers' willingness to pay for price increases to avoid the purchase of GM foods by the expansion of GMO labeling. The subjects were asked about their knowledge of GM, concerns of potential hazards, and sources of obtained GM information. The logit model was employed and marginal effects were calculated to interpret the results. The results showed that consumers who perceived the safety of GM technology were less likely to pay for price increases, while consumers who had concerns about GM foods were more likely to pay. In addition, the study demonstrated that consumers residing in urban areas and with low levels of education and income were also less likely to pay for price increases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.331-343
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• 2011

A survey of consumer awareness and attitudes was conducted about genetically modified (GM) foods and the labeling regulations. The questionnaires were distributed to 4,620 consumers who lived in a variety of areas in Korea, and 4,076 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, labeling information, and the source of obtaining information about GM foods. More than 11.5% of the consumers had never heard about GM foods and 86.9% of consumers had less than a normal level of knowledge about GM foods. No statistically significant relationship was found between genders, but the teachers group had moderate knowledge (p<0.001). In total, 28.4% of consumers did not know the GMO labeling regulations. They answered that the reason to buy GM food was do not know>nothing wrong>create benefit>think as safe>inexpensive. The answers to the question of what was the first benefit were: solve food shortage>functional and nutritious food>cultivate in bad condition>nothing>various cultivars. They answered that the worst factor was the next generation effect>environmental disruption. Regarding the development of GM food in Korea, males answered do not know>stronglyrecommend>defer>strongly suppress. Female answered: don't know>defer>strongly recommend>strongly suppress. More than half of the respondents did not have much information about GM foods; 88.3% of respondents answered they did not have educational experience about GM food.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.89-102
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• 2002

Genetically modified foods may be defined as the foods deemed as safe by current technology among the many kinds of agricultural and stockbreeding products that are now under research and development using contemporary gene-modification techniques. This study examines hotly debated arguments, both for and against genetically modified- foods, in various countries. This study also investigates consumers'rights and responsibilities. Countries that are developing and exporting genetically modified organisms(GMO) have maintained that GMO can help produce more crops while reducing labor and other production-related costs, and that the genetically modified foods signify ″the second green revolution,″ which will solve future food and environmental problems by strengthening specific nutritive substances and extending shelf-life. But consumer groups, environmental organizations. and food-importing countries are more cautious about importing and consuming those foods because the potential dangers of GMO to human bodies and the environment have not been tested thoroughly yet. South Korea, following suit with others such as EU, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, introduced a law on 'Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods', which went in effect in March, 2001, on the basis of customers'rights to make informed choices. The law takes the ″precautionary principle″ into consideration, rather than stopping at insuring ″substantial equivalence″ in developing and consuming GM foods. The actual impact of the law will depend on the level of citizens'Participation more than on the government's willingness to carry out the law. So far the level of Korean consumers'consciousness about genetically modified foods is very low. Therefore, it is hard to expect consumers to exercise their ″rights not to buy″ foods that are potentially unsafe. The Korean government must devise an effective plan to inform and educate the people about the labeling of genetically modified foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1150-1156
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• 2004

The GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) labeling system on raw materials has been in Korea since March 2001, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)-derived foods since July 2001. Therefore, we designed a multiplex PCR method to ascertain the validity of the labeling system and to monitor the status of circulation for genetically modified maize (GM Maize). Five lines of GM Maize (GA21, TC1507, Mon810, NK603, and Bt176) were used, and specific primer pairs were designed to detect each line. Using this method, the different lines of GM Maize were monitored from raw products and processed foods in Korean market. Some of the maize processed foods and raw materials were shown to contain more than one foreign gene. This method was found to be effective for-detecting five different GM Maize in a single reaction.