• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.325-341
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• 2010

A study on what kind of problems young consumers experience in buying and using mobile phone services with a comprehensive and consumers oriented perspective is needed. Through this acknowledgement, we investigated (i) the degree of consumer problems that young consumers experience in purchasing and using mobile phone services, and (ii) the related variables that affect experiences of this consumer problem. The parents of the teenagers were also included in the survey because they experience the same problems young consumers' experience in buying and using mobile phone services. Data were gathered through an internet survey (www.embrain.com) and a total of 699 samples from 350 parents and 349 youths using mobile phone services were analysed. The results are as follows. First, the teenagers and parents' experience level of young consumers' problems were generally high experiencing similar kinds of problems. Second, parents experienced more young consumers' problems than the teenagers in buying and using mobile phone services, especially in misuse and abuse of the phones. Third, among the teenagers, the monthly usage fee music or game usage, the number of changes in mobile phone service operators, the number of replacement mobile phones and the gender had a significant effect on consumers' problems of mobile phone services. Among the parents, the monthly usage fee, music or game usage, confirmation of the bill, and the gender of their child were significant consumer problems. Based on results of our survey the direction of consumer policy and education was suggested for teenagers and their parents.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2011

This study examines the motivation, opportunity, and ability in the use of the internet by comparing young and aging consumers in the essential infrastructure of an information oriented society. Previous studies have conducted surveys about using computers and the internet instead of measuring the digital divide by using multilateral approaches; however, this study examines digital divide in terms of motivation, opportunity, and ability. Results suggested age, gender, and education level influenced motivation, opportunity, and ability in the use of the internet by consumers; in addition, the motivation and ability were different depending on occupation. The results show that the digital divide was mainly influenced by motivation and ability in offering a difference between the two groups of young and aging consumers, This study contributes to illuminate the differences between young and aging consumers to use the internet and to suggest implications in the perspectives of motivation, opportunity, and ability.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.183-195
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• 2010

This paper, reviews the characteristics of green consumers through a Focus Group Interview (FGI) method. This study shows that some remarkable changes are taking place in the lifestyles of green consumers compared with the past lifestyles of green consumers. Second, this study shows that green consumers have the correct green opinions about present environmental problems and they have a critical environmentally conscious attitude on this issue. Third, the research shows that green consumers behave environmentally (buying, use, and disposal acts) based on individual and personal standards. This study suggests (based on the research findings) methods to solve environmental problems to the government, corporations, and consumers as well as ways to increase the number of environmentally conscious consumers.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 1999

This study investigates the importance of the role of mother to reduce conspicuous consumption of adolescent consumers. This study analyzes that the socio-demographic variables of adolescent consumers consumer ability the degree of materialism and the level at which the conspicuous consumption of the mother affect the conspicuous consumption of adolescent consumers. Analysis of the data collected from this study will be used to assist in reducing conspicuous consumption of adolescent consumers. A survey was conducted by questionnarire with 597 adolescent consumers attending middle and high school located in Seoul and their mothers. The results of this study show that the effect of conspicuous consumption of the mother was the most significant factor on the conspicuous consumption of adolescent consumers. The following factors were correlated with higher conspicuous consumption levels in adolescent consumers: 1) higher level of conspicuous consumption of the mother: 2) a lower evel of the moths consumer attitude ; 3) the lower educational level of the mother ; 4) whether the mother worked outside of the home rather than stayed at home full-time; and 5) less household income.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.413-429
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• 2023

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of consumers' inflation expectations using consumers' inflation perceptions and the sub-components of consumer price index (CPI) basket in South Korea based on a consumer survey conducted by the Bank of Korea (BOK). Design/methodology/approach - Using Carroll's (2003) epidemiological model, we analyzed data from January 2013 to January 2023, resulting in a data set of 121 observations for both inflation perceptions and inflation expectations. This study focuses only on aggregate inflation expectations and perceptions because of data availability from the BOK. Findings - Professionals' forecasts play a major role in forming consumers' inflation expectations, whereas the actual headline CPI and consumers' inflation perceptions do not. These results remain robust when including the sub-components of the CPI basket in the analysis. Research implications or Originality - It would be the most efficient way to suppress professionals' expected inflation in fighting against a substantial spike in consumers' inflation expectations. To guide consumers' inflation expectations based on BOK's inflation targeting, the bank needs to consider professionals' forecasts in devising monetary policies.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2016

Purpose - The objective of this study is to investigate the differences and interaction effects on the perceived financial risk between Korean and Thai consumers according to the types of product(utilitarian and hedonic) and price discount (bundle and 50%off). Research design, Data and Methodology - This paper sets up 6 research subjects. Data collection was carried out in Korea and Thailand. Data was made of 154 Korean and 147 Thai consumers. As for the independent variables for this study, consumer types are composed of Korean and Thai consumers, price discount types were bundle(1+1) and 50% off price, and product types consist of utilitarian and hedonic product. The dependent variable is perceived as a financial risk. Each question is measured as a Likert-type five-point scale. Results - According to the price discount and product type, perceived financial risk of Thai consumers is confirmed to be a larger one than that of Korean consumers. Also, there are interaction effects in the perceived financial risk. Conclusion - Our findings can be used as useful information for global retail markets as marketing strategies in future Korean enterprise through a comparative study on Korean and Thai consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 1998

The main objective of this study was to develop a basic information base on Chinese consumers related to clothing purchases. Previous studies on Chinese consumers were extensively reviewed and in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 middle-level managers at Korean apparel companies which market their merchandises in China. Combined results from the reviews on previous studies and interviews indicated that traditional values, communism and industrialization are the major forces which shape contemporary Chinese consumers. Industrialization, in particular, accompanied by influx of western culture and economic development, has resulted in wide-spread phenomenon of conspicuous consumption. Thus, brand and brand images appeared to be the most important considerations for purchasing imported apparels. In addition, diversity of Chinese consumers and geographical differences were emphasized, which indicated need for market segmentation. Other characteristics including body measurements also provided implications for fashion marketing in China.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.112-123
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• 2017

This study investigated if there are differences between Korean and Chinese consumers among the determinants of consumer complaint intention, type of complaint intention, and traits of complaining behavior. Sample subjects used in this study were female college students in Jeollabukdo and Jeollanamdo, Korea and Yunnam, China. Questionnaire data from 780 college students(Korea: 441, China: 339) were analyzed through a reliability analysis, factor analysis, frequence, mean, and multiple regression analysis. The results of the study were as follows. First, complaint intention of college students was divided into 3 factors, voice, private, and third party. Second, the findings of regression analysis for the total sample showed that the determinants of the factor 'voice' were the country, salespeople, product involvement, complaint cost, psychological tension, and social benefit. Whereas, the determinants of the factor 'private' were the producer, product involvement, psychological tension, and social benefit. Also, the determinants of the factor 'third party' were the country, oneself, salespeople, complaint cost, personal norms, and social benefit. Third, significant differences were indicated in the determinants of the 'voice', 'private' and 'third party' factors of complaint intention between Korean and Chinese consumers. Fourth, the complaint intention factors of 'voice' and 'third party' of Chinese consumers were higher than Korean consumers. Fifth, the attributions to dissatisfaction of Korean consumers were higher than Chinese consumers, and the product involvement, possibility for success, and consumer complaint attitudes of Chinese consumers were revealed to be higher than Korean consumers.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.459-467
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• 2016

In Korea, the market size for environment-friendly agricultural products has reached a plateau, even though many Korean consumers still show a high level of preference for environment-friendly agricultural products. In order to solve this problem, some Korean farmers and marketers are starting to try to export their products to many countries, including China. China, in particular, is becoming one of the fastest rising market for Korean environment-friendly agricultural products, after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement with China. However, little research has been done or reported about the purchase behaviors of Chinese consumers. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the environment-friendly agricultural product purchase behavior (especially, mandarin orange and muskmelon) of consumers in the Chinese market and to present some useful implications for Korean farmers and marketers. Through survey in China (especially, Beijing and Shanghai) and frequency analysis, this study made the following findings: first, Chinese consumers show a very strong concern for environment-friendly agricultural products. Second, many Chinese consumers usually buy environment-friendly agricultural products more than two times per month. Third, Chinese consumers give more value to freshness and food-safety than taste when they make decisions on buying environment-friendly mandarin orange and muskmelon. These can have some implications for the exportation of environment-friendly agricultural products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.477-493
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• 1997

The consumers' purchase experiences of some imported agricultural products (rice, sesame, garlic, onion, jujube, red pepper, oak mushroom, apple, dried persimmon) and their consciousness for the labelling of the country of origin for agricultural products in Youngnam region were examined in this study. The sample consisted of 438 women who lived in Taegu, Pusan and other cities of Kyungpook and Kyungnam, and the self-administered questionnaire for the survey was used. The main reasons to purchase the imported agricultural products were the wide distribution and low price of them. Most of the consumers were concerned about safety of the imported agricultural products but only a few people experienced unsatisfaction of the products. The price, quality, package, container, label, and safety of the examined products were evaluated worse than those of the domestic products. Generally, although they suffered unsatisfaction, the consumers did not complain because they wanted to avoid troublesome work, which means the consumers did not assert their rights. Some people did not know the labelling system for the country of origin and the place to charge the market violating it. Therefore, it will be necessary for the consumers to receive education about the labelling system for the country of origin and the compensation criteria for consumers' grievances and damages. The current labelling method for the country of origin generally met the consumers' preference but the consumers wanted to improve the position and color of the label. Most consumers could not differentiate the imported products from the domestic products. The results obtained from the survey suggest consumer education for the labelling system for the country of origin and the compensation criteria should be activated through various ways such as mass media and consumer organizations.