• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.31-57
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• 1991

Korean firms of all sizes, from virtually every industry, have used and are using the term "excessive competition" to describe the state of their industry and to call for government interventions. Moreover, the Korean government has frequently responded to such calls in various ways favorable to the firms, such as controlling entry, curbing capacity investments, or allowing collusion. Despite such interventions' impact on the overall efficiency on the Korean economy as well as on the wealth distribution among diverse groups of economic agents, the term "excessive competition", the basis for the interventions, has so far escaped rigorous scrutiny. The objective of this paper is to clarify the notion of "excessive competition" and "over-investment" which usually accompanies "excessive competition", and to examine the circumstances under which they might occur. We first survey the cases where the terms are most widely used and proceed to examine those cases to determine if competition is indeed excessive, and if so, what causes "excessive competition". Our main concern deals with the case in which the firms must make investment decisions that involve large sunk costs while facing uncertain demand. In order to analyze this case, we developed a two period model of capacity precommitment and the ensuing competition. In the first period, oligopolistic firms make capacity investments that are irreversible. Demand is uncertain in period 1 and only the distribution is known. Thus, firms must make investment decisions under uncertainty. In the second period, demand is realized, and the firms compete with quantity under realized demand and capacity constraints. In the above setting, we find that there is "no over-investment," en ante, and there is "no excessive competition," ex post. As measured by the information available in period 1, expected return from investment of a firm is non-negative, overall industry capacity does not exceed the socially optimal level, and competition in the second period yields an outcome that gives each operating firm a non-negative second period profit. Thus, neither "excessive competition" nor "over-investment" is possible. This result will generally hold true if there is no externality and if the industry is not a natural monopoly. We also extend this result by examining a model in which the government is an active participant in the game with a well defined preference. Analysis of this model shows that over-investment arises if the government cannot credibly precommit itself to non-intervention when ex post idle capacity occurs, due to socio-political reasons. Firms invest in capacities that exceed socially optimal levels in this case because they correctly expect that the government will find it optimal for itself to intervene once over-investment and ensuing financial problems for the firms occur. Such planned over-investment and ensuing government intervention are the generic problems under the current system. These problems are expected to be repeated in many industries in years to come, causing a significant loss of welfare in the long run. As a remedy to this problem, we recommend a non-intervention policy by the government which creates and utilizes uncertainty. Based upon an argument which is essentially the same as that of Kreps and Wilson in the context of a chain-store game, we show that maintaining a consistent non-intervention policy will deter a planned over-investment by firms in the long run. We believe that the results obtained in this paper has a direct bearing on the public policies relating to many industries including the petrochemical industry that is currently in the center of heated debates.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.131-144
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• 2021

The organizational ambidexterity is an organizational strategy designed to pursue exploration activities to seize new opportunities and exploitation activities to efficiently use resources. Most of these ambidextrous structures have been studied for large corporations with slack resources, and there are still not many studies on the necessity of an ambidextrous structure for startups with relatively low-level resources. However, recently, the startup ecosystem is being advanced globally, and the amount of VC investment is rapidly increasing. This is a time when a lot of venture fund is invested in startups and a startup-friendly environment for rapid growth is created. This is the time to discuss the necessity and applicability of an ambidextrous organizational structure for startups. Therefore, this study conducted a hypothesis test whether the importance and necessity of balance that startups solving market problems with new ideas and utilizing accumulated resources have. To conduct this study, we analyzed 140 startups data gathered from the survey and the moderation effect was also analyzed. As a result of the study, it was verified that the balance of startup exploration and exploitation had a significant effect on startup performance, and the moderating effect of environmental dynamics was found to have a significant effect on the relationship with non-financial performance. Therefore, for startups with insufficient resources, it was concluded that the surplus resources generated in the process of a firm's growth should be effectively utilized and the balance between exploration and exploitation should be balanced from the initial stage of searching for a new business. In other words, it was confirmed that it is important for continuous growth and survival to seek the structure of an ambidextrous organization in order to internalize a mechanism that enables startups to pursue both effectiveness and efficiency in the long term. This study suggests a strategic direction for the growth of startups from the perspective of organizational structure. We expect that this meaningful results on the relationship between the ambidextrous capabilities of startups and performance contribute to the growth of startups in the rapidly growing startup venture environment.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.87-114
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• 2008

The cultured tuna production which has suddenly expanded at the short time and the demand for it attract attention. Farming mode, distribution transactions, change of the market (domestic and international) and the price trend are reviewed from the Japan's position which is the biggest consuming country. This paper tries to describe the current status of the food system related to the cultured tuna. Japanese government began the development of the tuna culture technology in 1970. It was by the Fisheries Agency's project. Kinki University which is the large scale private university in Japan participated in the project. After that, 32 years have passed. Kinki University established the full farming of the bluefin tuna in August, 2002. On the other hand, in 1974, one Japanese private enterprise began its tuna farming business in Canada. Kinki University gave this company technical cooperation. Also, in the early stages of the 90s, as for the policy of the overseas fishery cooperation foundation, it supported the tuna farming business in Australia. It is very clear to understand that the long-term technological-development has supported the take-off scene of the tuna culture business not only in foreign countries but also in Japan. The total shipment scale of the cultured tuna expanded very much within about 10 recent years. However, the decrease of the wild tuna catch, the reinforcement of the fisheries regulation and the tuna body to dwarf are remarkable now. Under the condition as the mentioned above, Japan's tuna consumption, especially, in the market at the fatty meat of tuna of the cultured tuna is building up firm status. At present, the Mediterranean Sea coastal countries, Australia, Mexico and Japan have the tuna farming sites. Australia farms the southern bluefin tuna. The others do the bluefin tuna. About for 3 years, Japan farms the juvenile of the tuna. The global production areas are as follows. 8 coastal countries of the Mediterranean Sea; 18,000 tons (61 % of the cultured tuna quantity in foreign countries), Mexico; 4,500 ton (15%), Australia; 7,000 tons (24%). In 2003, Japan has 32 managements and 39 offices for tuna farming. In Japan, Kyushu and Okinawa district, the share shows itself as 80 % of the domestic production quantity. Especially, the share of Amami-oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture exceeds 60 %. Therefore, this island has the maximum production scale of Japan. The amount of supply of BT and SBT was 56,000 tons in 2004. In Abroad, the tuna farming business forms a fixed connection between the importer and the wholesaler which have their office in Japan. In the field of the capital composition, the payment in advance, transaction and the way of settlement, each maintains their fixed relation. The market conditions of the cultured tuna are supported by "the decline of price level" and "the expansion of the general public consumption segment". These lead a team merchandising, and it is supported by the fixed business connection of each. This makes the profit of each business which are on the cultured tuna distribution. However, they have competition on the power balance among them.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.444-453
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• 2018

The study addresses the analysis on the financial determinants of corporate research and development (R&D) expenditure in finance. Overall level of R&D spending was estimated as one of the top-tier on a global basis and a majority of the expenditure was invested by large domestic firms in private sector. Consequently, financial factors that influence R&D intensity were empirically tested in the first hypothesis by using conditional quantile regression model for firms listed in KOSPI stock market in the post-era of the global financial turmoil. Firms in the groups of high- and low-R&D intensity were statistically compared to detect financial differences in the second hypothesis which was accompanied by the test of multi-logit model that included firms without R&D outlay. Concerning the results of the hypothesis tests, R&D spending of the prior fiscal year, firm size, business risk and advertising expense overall showed statistically significant impacts to determine the level. As an extended study of [1] that had examined financial factors of R&D intensity at the macro-level, the results of the present study are anticipated to contribute to maximizing shareholders' wealth in advance or emerging capital markets, when applied to find an optimal level of R&D expenditure.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.649-674
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of public R&D subsidies on private R&D. We have analyzed rationales for the public R&D subsidy from different perspectives. On the basis of literature review, a two step research model is constructed: participation phase (when firms benefit from public subsidies) and decision phase (when firms make decision on additional R&D investments). Using propensity score matching(PSM) method, we compare the potential outcome of the treated group to a matched controlled group of non-subsidized firms. The data used in this paper was collected from various sources. The Korean Innovation Survey 2008(manufacturing sector) is a main source of data. Financial data such as revenue, asset and capital stock, and number of employees were supplemented from the Nice Information Service KIS Value database. The R&D survey, conducted by MEST(Ministry of Education, Science and Technology) each year, was also used for the R&D expenditures of the manufacturing firms. This study comes up with the following empirical results. First, a firm's innovation capability, financial constraints, and sector appear to influence the selection of firms who were benefited from government's financial supports for R&D. Second, empirical results show that public R&D funding complements private investment on average and appear to have perpetual effects on the following year. Finally, sectoral difference in the effect of public subsidies on firms' R&D investment was confirmed. In addition, SMEs show more positive effects than large firms.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.1-23
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• 2005

Kochujang, a fermented hot pepper soybean paste, is a spicy condiment mixed with red pepper, boiled rice and mold fermented soybean (as koji) which is then fermented for several months. It has unique taste of hot, sweet, salty and savory flavor by all mixed ingredients by fermentation, and is one of most famous Korean traditional foods. The scale of the kochujang industry is about 200 billion won in Korea, and 7.8 million dollars and 4,500 tons in exports. Although it is still not a large part of the food industry in Korea, the scale of soy products will increase because it is a major subsidiary food in our dietary life and has grown from a homemade to a mass produced product. Kochujang has the largest market in the scale of sales among fermented soybean products and has merit because of its domestic base and its ability to grow to an international market due to its unique fermented taste. In order to make kochujang an international food, it Is necessary to study the scientific development of kochujang and the diversity of products using kochujang that are fitted to the taste of people around the world. In addition, participation in various exhibitions and food fairs supported by the government should help to promote kochujang throughout the world. In addition, these should be actively supported by the related businesses. Red pepper, a major ingredient in kochujang, has been widely studied and shown to have a positive effect on the reduction of fat, on the strengthening of the immune system, and on active biological functions. A fermented spice like kochujang has been shown to be beneficial for the body due to the process of fermentation rather than from the red pepper itself. If we prove the various biological functions of kochujang with a particular taste and flavor, it will energize a new market. It is necessary for business to make a continuous effort supported fly the scientific world and by government policy, in order to introduce this traditional food to the world. In the present day, the kochujang market is now on a firm basis and has been activated in the field of its study. Now, it is possible to achieve the birth of a secondary international market by concentrating on these efforts.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.191-210
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• 2009

Internet was first designed only for sending data, but as the time passed, internet started to evolve into a broadband multi-media web that is capable of transmitting sound, video, high-capacity data and more due to the demands of internet users and the rapid changing internet-communication technology. Domestically, in January, 2000 Saerom C&T, launched a free VoIP, but due to limited ways of conversation(PC to PC) and absence of a revenue model, and bad speech quality, it had hit it's growth limit. This research studied VoIP based on technological enhancement in super-speed internet. According to IDC, domestic internet market's size was 80,800 million in 2008, and it formed a percentage of 12.5% out of the whole sound-communication market. in case of VoIP, it is able to maximize it's profit by connecting cable and wireless network, also it has a chance of becoming firm-concentrated monopoly market by fusing with IPTV. Considering the fact that our country is insignificant in MVNO revitalization, regulating organizations will play a significant roll on regulating profit between large and small businesses. Further research should be done to give VoIP a secure footing to prosper and become popularized.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 1993

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of various polyethylene (PE) film packaging on the quality of strawberry during storage at low temperature. Gas composition in film was changed rapidly at early stage of storage and then kept at the level of 5~10% $CO_2$and 1~3% $O_2$. Weight loss and decay rate were low at 0.08mm PE film packed strawberries. Titratable acidity, pH and soluble solids were changed slightly during storage but its large difference according to film thickness was not observed. Decrease of flesh firm-ness and a value was restrained by PE film packaging. Free sugar of strawberry was composed of glucose and fructose in similar content and it was decreased a little during storage but the difference according to film thickness was not observed. The organic acids in strawberry were citric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, ascorbir acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid and pyruvic acid and the major organic acid was citric acid. The contents of citric acid, malic acid, succinir acid and ascorbic acid were decreased and oxalic acid and tartaric arid were not changed during storage but pyruvic acid was increased in early stage and then decreased. These changes of organic acid were slight in packaged with 0.08mm PE film strawberry.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.117-140
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• 2015

Cloud Computing has drawn attention as one of 10 IT strategic technology trends and has various advantages such as cost reduction and enhancing business flexibility. However, corporations hesitate to adopt the service because of unexpected risks. Especially compared to large firm, medium and small ones use public cloud that security risk is high. Meanwhile, real option strategy has drawn attention as the method to hedge uncertainty in IT projects. Therefore, in this study causal relationships among technical, security, relational, and economic risks of cloud service will be investigated. Eventually, this study investigates how those risks influence the intention to choose the real option about the cloud service. For this study, five hypotheses is drawn, and a survey is conducted about the medium and small firms which are currently using cloud service to examine hypotheses. Since the study is at organizational level, 287 questionnaire replies are recalculated to 120 firms. For statistical analysis, Smart PLS and SPSS Statistics18 are used. As a result, technical risk of cloud service has significantly positive influence on security risk. Second, security risk and relational risk of cloud service has significantly positive influence on economic risk. Third, economic risk of cloud service has significantly positive influence on the intention to purchase the delay option or abandon option. Based on this result, this research discussed practical and academic implications and the limitations.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.107-118
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• 2016

Purpose - In today's markets, new technologies such as social network systems and user generated contents have provided consumers with access to unlimited amounts of information and an ability to communicate with other consumers in the world. Specially, the massive of the internet and the development of online communities and interactive platforms offer the potential to cocreate with a large number of consumers. Significant changes in marketplace suggest that simply being consumer oriented is not enough, so firms must learn from and collaborate with consumers to create values that meet their individual and dynamic needs. In these sense, emergent perspectives in marketing highlight new opportunities for co-opting consumers as a means to define and cocreate value through their engagement. Although the importance of consumer co-creation with firms, the current literature lacks the respond to two questions: (1) who are the most competent consumers for creating the values with firm? and (2) what are the stimulaters to help the consumers engage for co-creation? To this answer the question, this research investigate how to structure consumer motivations to encourage consumers to be more engaged for co-creation and what drives a consumer to get involved to respond to a call for co-creation. Research design, data, and methodology - To empirically test the hypotheses, a survey was conducted among consumers who had experienced the co-creation including upstream, downstream, autonomous, and sponsored co-creation with the firms. We collected a total of 343 responses. After we excluded 37 questionnaire because of incomplete responses, a total of 306 questionnaire remained. Working with a sample of 306 responses in Seoul and Kwangju, hierarchical moderated regression is employed to test research hypotheses. Results - The results indicated that consumer creativity and emergent nature are positively related to engagement in co-creation including upstream, downstream, autonomous, and sponsored co-creation. Also, the relationships between consumer creativity/emergent nature and engagement in co-creation were moderated by intrinsic motivation in case of upstream and downstream co-creation. Finally, interaction effects between consumer creativity/emergent nature and extrinsic motivation were not significant. Conclusions - These results suggest that marketing managers have to consider the consumer personality such as creativity and emergent nature and stimulate the intrinsic motivation of consumer to achieve the co-creation project successfully.