• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.654-663
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• 2019

Pollinators, which are important organisms in pollination ecology, have been highly valued for their economic contributions to crop production in the agricultural and biotechnology industries. As the production of over 70% of farm products, such as fruits, are mediated by pollinators, bees are important and useful insects to humans. However, pollinators are now seriously threatened with their numbers decreasing annually and their biodiversity being negatively affected by ongoing climate change, misuse of land, change of geographical features, and use of pesticides to increase agricultural production. Thus, surveys and analyses of the emergence and distribution of wild bees are important for conservation and management practices designed to help them continue to play their ecological and agricultural roles despite negative pressures, such as climate and topography changes. We surveyed pollinators, especially wild bees, at 51 research sites in South Korea every two to four weeks for two years from 2017 to 2018 using ez-Malaise traps and analyzed the temporal and spatial distribution of wild bees. The bees showed a normal temporal distribution that peaked between July and August. The bees' working period lasted until November. The spatial distribution of wild bees showed a significant correlation with latitude, and different bees were identified depending on the local habitat. No significant correlation was found for longitudinal distribution with regression analysis (p > 0.05), but this study identified locally specific wild bees. Although we could not predict significant distribution according to longitude, Further studies should be able to analyze the difference in the distribution of wild bees according to the climate, topography, and land-use patterns by humans. The results of this study provide basic information on pollinator distribution, which can be useful in agriculture and for the conservation and management of biodiversity in South Korean pollination ecology.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.303-317
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• 2022

Climate change caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions can alter the natural ecosystem, including the pollination ecosystem and agricultural ecology, which are ecological interactions between potted insects and plants. Many studies have reported that populations of wild bees, including bees and wasps (BW), which are the key pollinators, have gradually declined due to climate change, leading to adverse impacts on overall biodiversity, ultimately with agribusinesses and the life cycle of flowering plants. Therefore, we could infer that the rising temperature in Korean Peninsula (South Korea) due to global warming has led to climate change and influenced the wild bee's ecosystem. In this study, we surveyed the distributional pattern of BW (Superfamily: Apoidea, Vespoidea, and Chrysidoidea) at 51 sites from 2017 (37 sites) to 2018 (14 sites) to examine the effects of climatic factors on the nationwide distribution of BW in South Korea. Previous literature has confirmed that their distribution according to forest climate zones is significantly correlated with mean and accumulative temperatures. Based on the result, we predicted the effects of future climate changes on the BW distribution that appeared throughout South Korea and the species that appeared in specific climate zones using Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs). The distributions of wild BW predicted by the SSP scenarios 2-4.5 and 5-8.5 according to the BIOMOD species distribution model revealed that common and endemic species will shift northward from the current habitat distribution by 2050 and 2100, respectively. Our study implies that climate change and its detrimental effect on the ecosystem is ongoing as the BW distribution in South Korea can change, causing the change in the ecosystem in the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, immediate efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are warranted. We hope the findings of this study can inspire further research on the effects of climate change on pollination services and serve as the reference for making agricultural policy and BW conservation strategy

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.783-800
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• 2007

This study examined the evaluation on the consumers' voluntary anti-sites on on-line from the people concerned, such as the people of an enterprise, a consumer organization, and the consumer. We collected the data using in-depth interview of qualitative analysis. The in-depth interviews were carried out for about two hours in each respondent. Total 15 respondents, 5 in each part of three parts such as an enterprise, a consumer organization, and the consumer, were answered a interview. The data was analysed by content analysis method. As the result of this study, the people concerned to enterprises answered that anti-sites helped the enterprises through the objective and the constructive criticism. The consumers participating in the anti-sites also answered that the existence of anti-sites helped the companies to know the complaint and the dissatisfaction with their goods or services. We suggest the followings for the desirable consumers' voluntary anti-sites through this study. First, the companies need to recognize that the anti-sites help the companies because the anti-sites give the companies the information of improving the product and the corporate management. Second, people concerned to the consumer organizations need to take a neutral role so that the consumer members of anti-sites demand a proper compensation to the companies and receive the reasonable compensation. Third, the anti-sites' managers should give information to the consumer members of the anti-sites continuously, operate the anti-sites actively such as answering a question and managing their members. Fourth, the consumer members of anti-sites should have active attitude in participating in an anti-sites from exchanging various information to uploading their information.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.127-136
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• 2010

This research subdivided the groups of baby clothes purchasers by consumer value factors in order to study clothing behavior by the value group of baby clothes purchasers and to examine differences in shopping propensity, pursuit benefits, evaluation criteria, and utilization of information sources depending on the value groups 1. A total of three factors - the pursuit of a stable life, the pursuit of achievement, and the pursuit of pleasure - were derived by conducting a factor analysis on the value dimensions of baby clothes purchasers. The value types of baby clothes purchasers were classified into three groups - the group of the pursuit of achievement, the group of the pursuit of stability and pleasure, and the passive group as the result of conducting cluster analysis on the basis of three types of personal value factors. 2. In the difference of shopping propensity by the value group, the group of the pursuit of achievement and the group of the pursuit of stability and pleasure were found to be the group having economical shopping propensity. In the difference of pursuit benefits by the value group, the passive group appeared to be the group in pursuit of fashion, and it could be seen that the group of the pursuit of achievement and the group of the pursuit of stability and pleasure were highly interested in the pursuit of individuality and practicality. 3. In the evaluation criteria of clothes by the value group of baby clothes purchasers, the group of the pursuit of achievement was found to consider physical criteria as important evaluation criteria, and the group of the pursuit of stability and pleasure was found to consider aesthetic criteria as important evaluation criteria. In the utilization of information sources by the value group of baby clothes purchasers, the passive group was found to be influenced most by market-oriented information sources.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1005-1016
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• 2012

Recently, as growing number of consumers publish product and service reviews on the Internet, e-review has received attention from retailers and researchers. E-review, a form of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) which is typically shared between strangers whose identity and credibility are unknown, has become an important product information source as social media has facilitated information exchanges between more consumers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of e-review attributes on purchase intention for fashion products, which is mediated by trust of e-review, as well as to explore the differences between consumer communities and cooperative communities. A questionnaire was developed based on previous researches. Data were gathered from adults living in Busan. The results were analyzed by factor analysis, t-test, and regression using SPSS 18.0. The results showed that consumers tended to recognize e-reviews from consumer communities as exaggerated information, while they considered reviews from cooperative communities as reliable information, which gave the latter higher purchase intention. There were significant differences in e-review attributes for fashion products (e.g., Exaggeration, Entertainment, Innocence, and Agreement), purchase intention between consumer communities (e.g: Blog, Internet cafe) and cooperative communities (e.g: general malls and specialty malls). For both communities, purchase intention of fashion products was influenced by its entertainment attributes and perceived trust of e-reviews. These results suggest that e-retailers need to focus on understanding the causes of purchase intention with e-reviews for fashion products. Specifically, e-retailers should recognize that e-reviews of fashion products were associated primarily with entertaining and with consumers' trust. Based on these findings, managerial implications are presented.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1093-1101
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• 2009

To provide basic data to manufacture superior brassieres, we performed a survey on the wearing and buying habits, and preference of functions and materials of brassieres for 189 women subjects in their twenties. The results of this research are as follows; Style and size are the most important in purchasing brassieres. Flat breasted and sagging breasted subjects were dissatisfied in the fit of the upper cup. 70% of the subjects were ignorant of their brassiere size. Sagging breasted subjects were less satisfied with smoothness, softness, and weight when wearing their bras in comparison with the other types. Conical type breasts were common amongst women in their 20s. They are more likely to wear size 75A and 80A where the full bust girth is 10cm larger than the under-bust. They preferred demi cup brassieres with thin or moderate padding to full cup brassieres with thick padding. On the other hand, 56.8% of subjects wore brassieres all day. The subjects were dissatisfied with the slipping down of the shoulder straps. Large-breasted subjects were concerned more with dampness and the fit on the center front of the brassiere, and brassieres with too thick padding had a poor fit on the center front. Sports-brassieres which fit close to the skin and used stretchable fabric caused more itching and dampness and dissatisfaction in removal of the brassiere.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1025-1034
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the evaluation of fabric characteristics on the drapability, texture image and preference of blouse fabrics, and to analyze the effects of the texture image, objective and subjective drapability on the preference. As specimen, silk and polyester fabrics were collected. 52 female subjects evaluated 16 specimens with semantic differential scale of 18 fabric image and 20 sensibility. Data were analyzed through factor analysis, pearson correlational coefficient using spss win 12.0. For the evaluation, structural characteristics such as fiber contents, weave type, weight and thickness were analyzed. The results were as follows: The evaluation results of objective and subjective drapability showed differences. Sensory image factors of blouse fabrics were 'surface smoothness', 'elasticity', 'weight' and 'flexibility'. Sensibility image factors were 'elegance', 'classic', 'characteristic' and 'mannish'. 'Elegance', 'classic' and 'characteristic' of sensibility images showed high correlation with 'surface smoothness' and 'elasticity' of sensory image, also 'mannish' of sensibility image showed significant correlation with 'weight' of sensory image. The significant fabric characteristics affecting objective drapability were density, weight, thickness. The significant texture image factors affecting objective drapability were 'weight', 'flexibility' of sensory image and 'elegance' of sensibility image. On the other hand, the significant factors affecting subjective drapability were thickness of fabric characteristics and 'elegance', 'characteristic', 'mannish' of sensibility images. 'Elegance', 'characteristic' and 'classic' of sensibility image, 'elasticity' of sensory image and subjective drapability affected on the purchase preference.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.453-465
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• 2014

This study surveyed 266 housewives residing in a Gyeonggi-provincial area for their dietary attitudes, dietary habits, nutrition knowledge, and application of nutrition information to daily life according to whether they use nutrition labeling. The survey on the dietary attitudes of the subjects showed that the points of "think that nutrition affects health", "quite interested in nutrition and health information", "like developing and trying new diverse recipes", and "persistently try new foods" were higher among those who check out nutrition labeling (Check group, n=112) than those who do not check out nutrition labeling (No check group, n=154). Reason for snacking, the Check group reported higher in the reasons of "for taking nutrients" but lower in the reasons of "do not eat enough meal" and "impulsively" than the No check group (p<0.01). Asked about why they check the nutrition labeling, the Check group answered "to compare products with each other" and "to purchase healthy food" whereas the No check group said "to decide whether the food is safe or not" and "to reduce body weight" (p<0.01). The Check group showed more recognition on the significance of the nutrition labeling and application to their actual daily lives than the No check group. Therefore, our results suggest that proper use of nutrition labeling is expected to improve dietary attitudes and dietary habits as well as enhance the application of nutrition information to actual daily life and promote health not only for the housewives but also for their family members as well.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.859-866
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• 2006

The aim of this survey is to examine factors that influence on the perceived helpfulness in consumers' predicting its quality and safety when the country of origin (COO) of beef is declared. The data were analyzed that had collected from a consumer survey done in March 2006. 250 consumers living in Suncheon, Jeollanamdo were randomly selected as respondents. Eleven of them did not complete the survey material, so the total number of available samples were 239. All samples were estimated using proc logistic procedure of SAS package. The results indicate as follows: first, the levels of perceived helpfulness of COO in consumers' predicting beef quality and safety depend significantly on he age, the occupation, and the education level of demographic variables. Second, when analysing attitude variables to beef, the levels are significantly correlated with the respondents' ability to acquire information, their trust of information about beef, nd their interest about bovine spongiform encephalopathy(BSE). The proportional odds assumptions of models are not violated at p<0.05. Third, it is the gender, the age, and the education level of the respondents, and the respondents' ability to acquire information which significantly effect on the level of the perceived helpfulness of COO in predicting beef quality. Fourth, it is the consumer's age, their education level, and their trust of information about beef which statistically have a significant effect on the level of perceived helpfulness of COO in predicting beef safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.805-826
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• 2022

This study explored the process by which consumers purchase products from small fashion business owners via online and mobile channels. In addition, group types were classified given that the purchasing process depends on the consumers' life cycle. The consumer focus group interview (FGI) was conducted on 18 participants that were divided into six groups by age, work, and children. Results revealed that first, consumer journey comprised four stages. Factors influencing need recognition were "attention to information of social media influencer," "attention to information of affiliated groups," and "repeated advertising of SME products/brands." For information searching, "exploring purchase reviews," "environment for mobile shopping information exploration," and "continuous product tracking" were important factors. Purchasing and shopping stages were affected by "price-free, improvised purchase decision" and "convenient mobile payment system and point benefits." After the purchase, "active sharing and repeated purchase when satisfied" and "blocking relationships when dissatisfied" occurred. Second, six consumer groups based on the fashion life cycle are the "Platform lover," "Influencer follower," "Trust builder," "Novelty seeker," "Convenience seeker," and "New designer supporter." Ultimately, small business owners can develop the process of planning and selling fashion products more efficiently.