• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-164
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• 2003

This study analysis the market status and competitive structure of Korean fishery in Japan import market, and derive policy implications for seeking main causes. Specifically', trade state between Korea and Japan is discovered and theoretical model is also used to analysis competitiveness between two countries. And then real measuring methods of competitive index is Introduced, the status of Korean fishery products in Japan import market is analysed totally through the study of comparative predominance and export competition. The analysis is based on the statistical methods such as RCA, RMI, and CMS. In summary, first, Korean fishery products have the comparative predominance in Japan, China and Thailand, but they have the comparative inferiority in USA, considering research results. Second, competitiveness of fishery products between Korea and in Japan import market extreme, relatively, competitiveness of Korean fishery products for Thailand's fishery products is lowest. Third, Korean fishery products maintain unconstant pattern, but competitive inputs result in increasing export to Japan generally.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-22
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper empirically investigates the effect of a rise in the global value chain (GVC) on the industry-level efficiency of resource allocation (based on plant-level inefficiency measures) in Korea, with a focus on various channels through which a rise in the GVC can increase competition among firms and thus induce resources to be allocated more efficiently across firms. Design/methodology - We empirically investigate the relationship between the industry-specific importance of GVC and the industry-level allocative inefficiency that is measured as the dispersion of the plant-level marginal revenue of capital (MRK) as in Hsieh and Klenow's (2009) influential model. We compute MRK dispersion for industries sorted by various characteristics that are closely related to firm/industry sensitivity to the GVC. In other words, we compute the average industry-level MRK dispersion for industries sorted by industry-specific importance of GVC and compute the difference between the two groups of industries (higher vs. lower than the median GVC); we also calculate the difference between industries sorted by industry-specific export (import) intensity. This is our difference-in-difference estimate of the MRK dispersion associated with the GVC for the export (import)-intensive industry versus the non-export (non-import)-intensive industry. This difference-in-difference estimate of the MRK dispersion conditional vs. unconditional on firm-level productivity is then calculated further (triple-difference estimate). Findings - A rise in GVC is associated with a decrease in the MRK dispersion in the export-intensive industry compared to the non-export-intensive industry. The same is true for industries that rely heavily on imports versus those that do not (i.e., import intensive vs. non-intensive). Furthermore, the reduction in the MRK dispersion in the export-intensive industry associated with an increase in the GVC is disproportionately greater for high-productivity firms. In contrast, the negative relationship between GVC and MRK dispersion in the import-intensive industry is disproportionately smaller for high-productivity firms. Originality/value - Existing studies focus on the relationship between GVC and aggregate output, exports, and imports at the country level. We investigate detailed firm/industry-level mechanisms that determine the relationship between GVC, trade, and productivity. Using the plant-level data in South Korea, we investigate how GVC is related to the cross-firm MRK dispersion, an important measure of allocative inefficiency, based on Hsieh and Klenow's (2009) influential economic theory. This is the first study to provide plant-level evidence of how GVC affects MRK dispersion. Furthermore, we examine how the relationship between GVC and MRK-dispersion varies across export intensity, import intensity, and firm-level productivity, providing insight into how GVC can affect firms' exposure to competition in the global market differently depending on market conditions and thus generate trade-related productivity gains.

• Economic Analysis
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.34-65
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• 2019

This paper investigates the effects on Korean exports of demand in developed economies, and how these effects have changed since the global financial crisis. As a measure of import demand, we use import intensity-adjusted demand to take into account heterogenous import intensities across components of aggregate demand. Our estimation of a dynamic panel regression model reveals that Korea's exports to the G7 countries were elastic with respect to the import demand of these countries until the global financial crisis, but have shifted to become inelastic since. Furthermore, we separately estimate the effects of the different components of the G7 countries' aggregate demand (private consumption, public consumption, investment and exports). The results show that the decrease in private consumption in the G7 countries during the crisis had a significant impact in causing the decline in Korea's exports to them, but that the increase in their public consumption since the crisis has had a significant effect on driving increased Korean exports to them. The effects of the G7 countries' exports on Korea's exports to them remain positive and significant during both the pre- and post-crisis periods. The effects of the G7 countries' investments on Korea's exports are also positive and significant, but the positive effect has weakened since the crisis. Our findings suggest that the overall effect of changes in the G7 countries' import demand on Korea's exports to them has weakened compared to the pre-crisis period.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.389-416
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• 2020

This paper provides empirical evidence on the reorganization of GVCs in East Asia, highlighting that structural trends explain a decrease in the fragmentation of production after 2011 but that it is not the result of rising trade costs along the value chain. Using harmonized inter-country input-output tables, the paper first analyzes the global import intensity of production to document changes in the structure of GVCs. It then calculates theory-consistent bilateral trade costs for intermediate and final products using an approach derived from the gravity literature and introduces a new index of cumulative trade costs along the value chain. These data are used to discuss whether the decrease in global imports is the consequence of shifts in demand, efficiency-enhancing strategies of firms or rising trade costs. Between 2011 and 2016, cumulative trade costs have decreased in East Asian GVCs. However, as COVID-19 is likely to intensify trade and investment uncertainties, trade costs could increase in the future. Policies aimed at reducing uncertainties and preserving the gains from trade and investment liberalization will be key in this new environment.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.131-152
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• 2012

This study has analyzed the international trade flow of medical devices in Korea, China, and Japan more theoretically and systematically through a mutual connection of the medical device export structure of Korea and the import structure of China and Japan organically, with an intensity approach on the bilateral international trade flow. Also, it is meaningful to find a solution to boost exports of Korea to China and Japan. Therefore in this study, we recognize the importance of the medical device market in China and Japan, which is the main competition for Korea and its market, and look into the trade situation of these three countries. We also look into the relative market stream and the trade intensity of the main medical devices in Korea, China and Japan, and seek measures for the steady growth of the medical device market in these three countries.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

Purpose - This study reviews changes in the steel export-import structure between Korea and Japan to strengthen the competitive advantage of the Korea Steel industry using a trade-related index. Design/methodology - This study focuses on analyzing comparative advantage based on the trade intensity index (TII), revealed comparative advantage index (RCA), and trade specialization index (TSI). Findings - Korea's steel import from Japan increased due to the domestic supply shortage of HR (Hot Rolled Coil) and Plate, rather than the sharp decline of the domestic steel industry's competitiveness in 2010. However, after the completion of Hyundai Steel's blast furnace, the Korea Steel industry solved the supply shortage. Additionally, the import of Japanese steel products had decreased significantly from 2009 to 2019. Originality/value - This study attempts to analyze Japanese steel products' competitiveness in trade and the domestic influence of high-quality Japanese steel products. These results are connected to domestic steel supply and demand structure and relations with the Japanese steel industry. After completing Hyundai Steel's blast furnace, the Korea Steel industry solved the supply shortage, and the import of Japanese steel products has decreased significantly from 2009 to 2019.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.34-42
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• 1991

Protection of tropical forest affects on significant reduce of tropical hardwood supply, and softwood resources will be increasingly important for the timber security in Korea. U.S. softwood log was most favorite species for Korean softwood log importers in overall import conditions except price stablization and consistency of export policy. Reduced export volume from Pacific Northwest to Korean market has been immediately replenished by rediata pine from New Zealand and Chilean plantation. Siberian timber will hardly play major roles in Korean timber market unless budding structure. softwood plywood and softwood furniture uses are enhanced. Recent rapid rise of labor cost and reducing tariff rrate in Korea provided better opportunities for import lumber in building materials market. Dry dimension lumber was relatively profitable when processed from import U.S. soft-wood log while green lumber was favorable products processed from radiata pine log in Korean lumber market. This means U.S. softwood lumber would have better opportunity to market for '2${\times}$'4 studs when wood frame housing is introduced. On the other hand while radiata pine is competitive on temporary construction lumber such as supporter and concrete forming frame in Korea. Shortage of raw material for the new capacity of board plants in Korea will be it bottle neck. Major log export countries to Korea as U.S. New Zealand and Chile showed high trade intensity indices of composite hoard produces for Korean market. As Korea efforts to diversify import sources, and tariffs are reduced to 8% as scheduled by 1994. countries of scoring higher comparative advantages as Portugal. Brazil, Austria as well as New Zealand will have better opportunity to penetrate into promised Korean composites hoard market.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.59
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• pp.181-205
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• 2013

This study has analyzed the international trade flow of medical devices in Korea, China, and U.S. more theoretically and systematically through a mutual connection of the medical device export structure of Korea and the import structure of China and U.S. organically, with an intensity approach on the bilateral international trade flow. Also, it is meaningful to find a solution to boost exports of Korea to China and U.S.. Therefore in this study, we recognize the importance of the medical device market in China and U.S., which is the main competition for Korea and its market, and look into the trade situation of these three countries. We also look into the relative market stream and the trade intensity of the main medical devices in Korea, China and U.S., and seek measures for the steady growth of the medical device market in these three countries.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.517-545
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• 2008

This study, tried to describe the corporations and competitiveness of IT industries in Korea and China as well as the general trend in trade using import-export structure. Further, based on trade intensity index, revealed comparative advantage index, Grubel-Lloyd index, constant market share, the trade structure between Korea and China was analyzed for the equipment in the fields of communication, information, broadcasting and their parts. The results are; first, since 2004, China has been catching up with Korea in the number of their companies listed in the global top 500 conglomerates. Second, the trade intensity index increased in 2007 4.57% up from 2002, showing increasingly closer connection between the two countries in the area of communications equipment. Third, according to revealed comparative advantage index, Korea's info-communications equipment seems to comparatively lag behind, but in terms of import-export structure is in the black. Fourth, in recent years, Korean equipment's market share in the Chinese market has been dropped due to the weakening competitiveness and the changing commodity supplies.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

Purpose - This study, in seeking to understand the trade structure of both Korea and China, aims to strengthen Korea-China economic cooperation; it examines trade impediments by analyzing the problems affecting trade and addressing these problems, thereby discovering ways to expand trade between these countries. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - The index of trade intensity developed by the trade intensity theory (Kruger, 1997) is used to analyze the trade decision factors of both countries. Although specific factors should have materialized from the analysis of trade decision factors, determining concrete explanations is difficult in reality, as there are many unsolved and diverse factors. Results - First, the index of A value/B value is the index of Korean versus Chinese market share/Korean versus world market share, which is a measure of comparative market intensity. Second, Korea has a comparative advantage in export specialization and, conversely, China has a comparative advantage in import specialization. Third, compared to 2000, the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) indexes are considerably improved. Conclusions - This study used quantitative measurement for analysis, applying trade intensity theory, trade specialization, and RCA indexes to gauge how inter-trade relations have changed between Korea and China during the past 10 years (2000, 2005, and 2012).