• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.1-21
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• 2007

This study introduces 'Free Market' that was recently developed in front of Hongik university. 'Free market', as a place for transactions for art products produced by artists or prospective artists, is held regularly every Saturday in front of Hongik university. This study collected data through in-depth interviews with participants and participant observations at the market to analyze the success factors of 'Free Market'. We described development process, unique characteristics of 'Free Market' and new experiential values that the market provide to the participants. This free market was introduced as roadside stand in the middle of 1990s when some artists started selling their works. It passed through the growth stage after it staged the event that had mixed characteristics of 'flee market' and 'art market' at local festivals in 2001. In 2002 Sin-Chon culture forum directedculture-oriented market and the market has been developed as a current 'Free Market'. Recently 'Free Market' is comprised of steps, artists, and customers who voluntarily participated in the market. The market is held regularly every Saturday and provide various types of programs for the participants. Major characteristics of this free market were summarized as 'complex space' and 'role transition', and these characteristics provided the participants new experiential values such as 'freedom', 'emergent experiences', 'social interaction' and 'hero of festivals' through the participant role. We interpret that 'Free Market' has been successfully settled down as a new type of retail store based on these new experiential values. Therefore, this case provides very useful implications that unique experiential values that a store provides to the customers can be major sources of store competitive advantages.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.37-60
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• 2010

Department Stores have been in place as typical large-scale retailer in Korean retail market. After Asian financial crisis in 1997, the market share of major three department stores has been increased and they have had a dominant position in relationship with vendors or manufacturers. Thus, they are able to control sales commission. Sales commission is defined as things that department stores which contribute to products sales instead of manufacturers take some portion of price as their revenue. In other words, vendors or manufacturers pay some amount of money from their sales by contracted ratio to department stores. The problem is that vendors or manufacturers think that sales commission is high. However, department stores have a different opinion that sales commission is not high because they generate new value from gathering customers and doing marketing activity on behalf of vendors or manufacturers. Because department stores have operated with business model of renting sales space to vendors or manufacturers instead of buying goods directly from them, this situation has been taken place. The revenue of department stores depend on sales commission. Thus, they want to get a dominant power to control sales commission in relationship with vendors or manufacturers. So, they have tried to increase their size and brand power. The considered policies related in sales commission of department stores are as following: preventing monopoly or oligopoly of department store, being strength of monitoring for department stores' unfair trade, strict enforcement of law for large-scale retailer's unfair trade, and inducing win-win strategy doing voluntarily by department stores.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.5-15
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• 2013

Purpose - With the increase in fervor to purchase luxury brands, new social problems have arisen, such as excessive preoccupation with luxury brands and high preference for forged luxury goods. Therefore, the issues related to luxury brands, termed "Luxury Syndrome," have emerged as an area of great interest for researchers and practitioners. However, previous studies neglect to categorize this preference for luxury brands. Therefore, this study aims to identify the different purchasing behaviors of consumers using the types of luxury brands preferences as parameters. Research design, data, and methodology - This study arranges a causal relationship model assuming that purchase behaviors positively (+) affect typified preference for luxury brands and purchase intentions. We administered a questionnaire survey to the purchasers who bought luxury brands from department stores to secure additional data necessary to verify the hypotheses in this study. We then processed the data using SPSS 19.0. We further analyzed the basic data using frequency and descriptive statistical analysis, and verified the measurement tools through feasibility and reliability analyses. Moreover, this study uses multiple regression analysis to verify the hypotheses. Further, this study tests the path effect between luxury brand purchase attitude and purchase behavior, with non-intrinsic preference and intrinsic preference as the mediating variables. Results - Based on the results, the impact of tendencies of conspicuous consumption and self-monitoring on non-intrinsic preference was significantly positive (+), while the impact of tendencies of pursuit of a reference group, conspicuous consumption, and self-monitoring on intrinsic preference and purchase intentions was significantly positive (+). Further, non-intrinsic and intrinsic preferences positively (+) influence purchase intentions and the impact of non-intrinsic preference took an absolute portion. However, the tendency of dependence on brands negatively (-) impacts purchase intentions. The results showed that self-monitoring and conspicuous consumption tendencies have greater effect on purchase intention, which is mediated by non-intrinsic preference. In contrast, reference group following tendency has a greater effect on purchase intention, which is mediated by intrinsic preference. Conclusions - Based on the results, the study verifies that the consumption of luxury brands in Korea has not yet entered the settling period. The tendency for conspicuous consumption and the tendency for pursuit of the reference group were relatively important aspects for the consumers who prefer luxury brands non-intrinsically and intrinsically, respectively. Especially, it was found that the purchase intentions for forged brands originate from the tendency to depend on brands. Based on these findings, this study suggests the measures to develop and mature the luxury brands market, and reinforce marketing performance at the three levels, that is, government, distributors, and manufacturers. The luxury brands manufacturers should devote themselves to the production and design of products to catch the attention of mature consumers of luxury brands. The luxury brands distributors should then raise the level of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for opinion leaders. Finally, the Government should prepare effective policies for the development of luxury brands and provide a variety of economic support.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.93-105
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• 2013

Purpose - This empirical analysis determines the structured causal relations between perceived value, customer satisfaction, and repurchase intention among users of traditional markets. The results of this analysis would help merchants and market operators indevisingan appropriate strategy to successfully manage traditional markets. Research design, data, methodology - The perceived value model of traditional markets includes functional value (price), functional value (quality), emotional value, and social value. In this study, the perceived value of traditional markets is considered as an independent variable, while customer satisfaction and repurchase intention are shown as the dependent variables, where customer satisfaction is also considered as the mediating variable. The study aims to ascertain the extent of influence of the perceived value of traditional markets on customer satisfaction and repurchase intention. We use regression analysis to verify the effects. The measurement items were already deemed as reliable and valid in the previous study, but for this purpose, we made some modifications. We distributed questionnaires to 300 consumers on a national scale, and finally used 241 consumer responses among these as a sample. We analyzed the data using the SPSS 21.0 statistical program. Results - We obtained the following results. First, the order of perceived value dimensions of traditional markets that positively impact customer satisfaction is functional value (price), social value, emotional value, and functional value (quality). Second, the perceived value sometimes directly affects repurchase intention; its effect is typically strong with customer satisfaction as a parameter. The order of perceived value dimensions that positively impact repurchase intention is social value, functional value (price), emotional value, and functional value (quality). Third, the perceived value significantly influences repurchase intention, with customer satisfaction as the mediating variable. Conclusions - We should recognize the importance of perceived value in retail distribution markets, such as traditional markets. Moreover, we need to develop strategies to improve the perceived value. The practical implications of the study are as follows. First, with regards to functional value (quality; price) dimensions, we should have an appropriate assortment of high quality products that are reasonably priced. In addition, customers are satisfied with the friendly service, discounts, and other benefits provided by the merchants. Second, in terms of emotional value dimension, we need to develop differentiated events that provide fun and emotional experience to the customers. Third, in the context of social values dimension, we should strive to positively influence society to enhance social image through activities such as social services and contribution to community development. On the basis of these results, we present the implications, limitations, and future directions for the research. One of the policy implications of the study is that merchants of traditional markets must actively select customers and develop customer value. However, this study is limited in the fact that the population used for data collection is not fully representative, as the survey only covered some specific areas. Moreover, future studies could also benefit with additional research using moderating variables.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.61-74
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• 2012

Industrial complexes in Korea have been vigorously established by economic development plan and development policy of industry in 1960s. Recently, Korean government has promoted Eco Industrial Park (EIP) project to recycle by-products and wastes in industrial park In this study, we analyzed the physical and chemical properties for the sludges discharged from A industrial complex. And we investigated the economic feasibility and environmental impact of sludge to energy facilities. The analysis results indicated that the petrochemical industry were 92% in sludge production, the highest treatment amount was landfill, followed by incineration and recycling and then ocean disposal. Wastewater sludge and process sludge samples are collected and analyzed to use as basic data on economic feasibility and environmental impact. Weighted average heating value of sludge samples was 3,891kcal/kg. Based on this data, installation and operation costs, operation returns of operating the drying facility are estimated, compared with cogeneration facility. And this study examines how the payback period of each simulation(total 8 case) with the important parameter changes. As a result, it was found that what needs the shortest payback period is 3years with connection of drying facility and cogeneration facility based on the government's financial subsidy system.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.491-502
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• 2007

Categorization is very important for product design. Consumer's emotion become different according to a type of categorization, so design concept and design elements must be combined differently with difference of the emotion. Specially, categorization process is necessary if nowadays product line is enlarged, and a product differentiation is not clear. That is, designers decide on correct categories and a design concept based on similarity of emotion and have to provide to consumer-oriented design. The purpose of this study is to provide a design direction for Korean traditional sauce products after extracting consumers' sensitivity from the whole image of Korean traditional sauce and each images of the sauces-korean hot pepper paste, soybean paste, fermented soybeans paste, SsamJang, and soy sauce- and deciding categories of the each sauces based on the extracted sensitivities' similarity. In the result of this study, we knew that Korean traditional sauces didn't differentiate from consumers' preference images. In our empirical research, the research - emotional image survey on sauces - have conclusion that emotional image of "well-being", "tasty" have positive influence, but emotional image of "messy and dirty", "smelly" have negative influence. Therefore, we suggest that positive emotional images like "tasty" should be emphasized, but negative emotional images like "messy" should be eliminated for design and marketing strategy of Korean traditional sauces. This research will suggest the guideline for product design with respect to academic aspects and working-level aspects.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-26
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• 2019

The Korean economy has undergone growth based on manufacturing end products. The Korean government aims to advance industry by strengthening the materials and components industry, which is attracting more attention in terms of maintaining the competitiveness of existing key industries, and fostering new industries required in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Despite this importance, there is insufficient related research on the efficient R&D of the materials and components industry. This study analyzed the R&D efficiency. In addition, exploratory research was conducted on the impact of corporate size and type of cooperation on R&D efficiency. Output variables were set to reflect economic performance and the empirical analysis revealed that overall R&D efficiency is low. Small firms were found to perform better than large firms in terms of firm-size, and the efficiency of business-university-research cooperation is worse than other types of cooperation. This study is exploratory research considering the materials and components industry, and the results provide implications for research institutions and regarding types of cooperation. This is expected to help develop polices for qualitative growth and R&D strategies for investment and allocation.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2018

This study is an empirical study to examine the effect of the characteristics of service nature of Korean small and medium manufacturing firms on organizational innovation. It is essential to know service in order for Korea, which has a strong image as a fast follower, to enhance the competitiveness of Small and Medium size Manufacturing firms. By analyzing the service characteristics phenomenon, it is possible to understand the service nature characteristics and to strengthen the capacity to meet them. In order to gain a new resource while achieving organizational innovation, the manufacturing industry can produce new demand for the main products with competitive advantage. The characteristics of service nature are derived from relationship, equality, interactivity, and experiential value. In order to enhance the competitiveness of small and medium size manufacturing firms, core competencies required for organizational innovation are set as dynamic competencies, and to prove it. The dynamic capacity was found to affect the relationship, interactivity, and experience value. It is proved that it is an important factor to promote organizational innovation as a capability to identify and actively utilize organizational innovation opportunities ahead of competitors in a rapidly changing environment. It is needed to confirm that large corporations, midsize companies, and overseas companies can achieve the same results.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.37-46
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• 2016

Patent application as achievements from R&D institutions in public sector have quantitatively increased by expanding R&D investment for enhancing competitiveness but there have been few tangible outputs from the investment. From this reason, TLO(Technology Transfer&Licensing Organization) and its operation becomes more important to implement technology transfer and commercialization and to bring success in the related business. To get work done more efficiently and to improve utilizing products of the R&D in the TLO, this research is to draw domains and activities of TLO and establish its task systems by prioritizing activities. From literature reviews and expert interviews, we generated 6 work domains and 21 task items. Applying AHP analysis, we discriminated the relative importance from task items and analyzed its priority. The finding of this research can provide implications for TLO to increase work efficiency and improve its performance.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.341-366
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• 2013

The term, Mittelstand, has no exact english translation for the definition, but, today, Mittelstand refers to small and medium-sized enterprises(SME), mostly family-owned firms in Germany. The Mittelstand is called the backbone of the German economy because it drove the economic miracle after World War II. During the global recession and the euro zone's debt crisis in recent years, in which european businesses have faced the near-collapse of competitiveness particularly in manufacturing, the German exports are booming and exceeded exports of China in 2012. Most importantly, the Germany economic performance has been widely attributed to the strength of the Mittelstand. Many of countries, even some leading public companies are seeking to emulate the success of the Mittelstand. Investors evaluate that many of Germany's investable "hidden champions" are Mittelstand companies. The purpose of this study is to present some of answers to the following questions: Firstly, what makes the German Mittelstand so successful? Secondly, what does the success of the German Mittelstand mean for the Korean SMEs in global competitiveness? Thirdly, what Korean government has to do improve the global competitiveness of the Korean SMEs? Some discussions in this study mention the managerial implications for Korean exporting SMEs particularly in manufacturing. Several factors that account for the success of the German Mittelstand are technological excellence and the tradition of family-owned management, concentration on niche market and globalization, and institutional supports. There are some of important lessons to be learned from the German Mittelstand. If the purposes of Korean SMEs want to remain in the sustainable competitive advantage and withstand unforeseen economic turbulences in the future, they must be able to meet the followings: 1) Technology that meets the global standard or exceeding it 2) Competitiveness in price in the global market 3) Active involvement in the globalization process, utilizing various entry modes Innovative products at globally competitive price are a crucial point for Korean exporting SMEs to achieve their competitive edge over others in the target markets abroad. It is time for Korean SMEs to cultivate a core competence in manufacturing in order to position Korea as a global manufacturing hub with SMEs leading.