• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.492-505
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was undertaken to examine the perception of Korean consumers regarding soybean meat. Using the Dietary Identify Questionnaire (DIQ), the data obtained were analyzed to identify various factors related to a plant-based diet. Methods: A consumer survey was conducted from June 1^st to 30^th, 2021, targeting 260 Korean consumers over the age of 20 years. Subjects were asked to answer six questions related to the perception of soybean meat. Of the 52 items present in the DIQ, 33 items were verified and reconstructed. All data were analyzed using the SPSS statistics (ver.25). Results: The subjects were divided into two groups, 'passive consuming group' and 'active consuming group', based on their perception of soybean meat. Demographic analysis according to the perception of soybean meat showed significant differences in age, marital status, academic background, and family members. The DIQ was categorized into 7 types: prosocial motivation, out-group regard, centrality, public regard, personal motivation, strictness, and private regard. Comparing by perception about soybean meat, significant differences were obtained between both groups for 'prosocial motivation (p < 0.01)', 'centrality (p < 0.01)', 'private norm (p < 0.05)', and 'personal motivation (p < 0.001)'. The 'passive consuming group' showed relatively low scores in all 4 factors. Conclusion: In the future, the results of this study can be applied to define the meaning of vegan in Korea. We believe our results will provide basic marketing data for the plant-based meat market. This will help expand the soybean meat market for a sustainable life for consumers, which is based on various needs such as health and the environment.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2023

The purpose of this exploratory study is to compare the differences in public perceptual characteristics of Korean and Chinese societies regarding the metaverse using big data analysis. Due to the environmental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, technological progress, and the expansion of new consumer bases such as generation Z and Alpha, the world's interest in the metaverse is drawing attention, and related academic studies have been also in full swing from 2021. In particular, Korea and China have emerged as major leading countries in the metaverse industry. It is a timely research question to discover the difference in social awareness using big data accumulated in both countries at a time when the amount of mentions on the metaverse has skyrocketed. The analysis technique identifies the importance of key words by analyzing word frequency, N-gram, and TF-IDF of clean data through text mining analysis, and analyzes the density and centrality of semantic networks to determine the strength of connection between words and their semantic relevance. Python 3.9 Anaconda data science platform 3 and Textom 6 versions were used, and UCINET 6.759 analysis and visualization were performed for semantic network analysis and structural CONCOR analysis. As a result, four blocks, each of which are similar word groups, were driven. These blocks represent different perspectives that reflect the types of social perceptions of the metaverse in both countries. Studies on the metaverse are increasing, but studies on comparative research approaches between countries from a cross-cultural aspect have not yet been conducted. At this point, as a preceding study, this study will be able to provide theoretical grounds and meaningful insights to future studies.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.88-92
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• 2023

In this review, we examine the latest technological developments in the utilization of truffles, a gourmet ingredient reputed to be one of the "world's three greatest delicacies," considering changing global consumption trends. Global demand for truffles is expected to increase steadily, with an average annual growth rate of 8.9% from 2023 to 2030. As truffles are expensive, the demand for truffles is expected to be concentrated in developed countries such as the United States, European countries, and Japan. In Korea, truffles are utilized in various industries, including food, functional foods, and cosmetics. Korean consumer demand for truffles has consistently remained high since 2019, and truffle products have been performing well in the market. Consequently, there exists substantial potential demand for newly developed truffle-related products and technologies. This review aims to provide objective research information through the systematic analysis of patent applications in Korea and internationally, focusing on technologies involving truffles, and can aid in setting directions for research and development.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.82-93
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• 2022

The food service industry is a major driver of global sustainable food consumption. By understanding food consumption behavior, restaurant managers can forecast demands and reduce pre-consumer food waste. This study investigates the relationship between influencing factors and the number of customers at restaurants and cafés. These factors are weather-related factors, including rain and temperature, and school-related factors, including exams and the day of the week. Based on these four factors, 24 possible combinations were created. Three representtive days were chosen for each weekday combination. Besides, one representative day was chosen for each weekend combination. In total, 48 days were sampled throughout the year. Customer data were collected from six restaurants and cafes on a Korean university campus. Conjoint analysis was used to determine the relative importance of each variable to customer numbers. Following that, utility scores were standardized and mapped to determine the best condition when the number of customers was at its peak. In addition, each store's sales were compared using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. The findings support that temperature and rain influences are correlated with the number of customers. Furthermore, we discovered that temperature was far more significant than rain in determining the number of customers. The paper discusses the implications of weather to forecast food and beverage demand and predict meal choices.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.125-138
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• 2022

This study has examined the effect of cognitive resource on purchase intention of scarcity products according to the level of need for cognitive closure. In order to find out the effect on purchase intention for products that are presented a shopping environment is supposed, where various timing of consumer promotion reward exist, and where consumers can easily access and experience a lot of cognitive changes. the effect of how these two influences are adjusted according to the level of need for cognitive closure (NFCC). The study divide into two experiments. Research analyzes the behavioral differences of consumers for scarcity message products according to cognitive resource level with a moderating effect of NFCC. As a result of the study, Research according to the level of cognitive resource, when applied scarcity message product showed a negative effect of the cognitive resource (self-regulating resource) depletion level on the purchase intention of high-involvement product with scarcity message (Hypothesis 1). Consumers' purchase intention for limited products was higher at the non-depleted level than at the cognitive resource depletion level, and this difference was found statistically significant. Next, as a result of examining the difference according to the level of NFCC, the difference in the influence of cognitive resource level on purchase intention of scarcity products was found to be statistically significant where the NFCC was low (Hypothesis 2).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2023

Background: The need to develop alternative chemicals is increasing worldwide due to the strengthening of global chemical regulations and consumer safety awareness in the marketplace. Objectives: We aimed to review domestic and foreign technology trends for exploring alternative candidate algorithms that can be used to develop safer alternatives to strengthen global market competitiveness and protect public health in the future. Methods: We searched the current status of research trends, companies related to the development of alternative chemicals in domestic and foreign countries. For this, we referred to research papers and websites by companies and institutes related to such alternatives. Results: Among the domestic and foreign research trends, more studies in South Korea were focused on predicting molecular-based physicochemical properties and toxicity than were reporting on research exploring alternative candidates. Three web-based databases and six tools were being developed. More studies in other countries predicted information to consider in alternative development than reported on research exploring alternative candidates, and four web-based databases and three tools were being developed. Among the companies related to the development of alternative chemicals, 286 alternatives classified as 'EVALUATED ALTERNATIVE' in MARKETPLACE accounted for the most significant proportion in Europe on a continent basis, and the largest number in the United States (US) on a national basis. In South Korea, only significant companies were registered. Conclusions: In this study, it was found to be necessary to provide public technology support platforms to explore alternative candidates considering various aspects in order to support alternative development. In conclusion, exploring alternative candidate algorithms could contribute to the response to the global trends in the chemical industry and to supporting companies and researchers developing safer alternatives in the future.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-23
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• 2023

In this study, we try to discover some success factors, for the entire value chain of the O2O food delivery industry in China, from ordering to delivery. We study the influence of three aspects of the value chain, namely, (1) the mobile platform, (2) the restaurant and food and (3) the delivery service, on the perceived value and repurchase intention of customers. Using structural equation modeling, we develop a structural research model with seven sets of hypotheses relating various independent variable constructs (platform, restaurant, and delivery) and dependent constructs (perceived value and repurchase intention). We find that usefulness of mobile app, the food condition and the availability of offline restaurants were significant antecedents for perceived value and repurchase intention. In addition, fair pricing was a significant antecedent for repurchase intention.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.24-40
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• 2023

As the aversion to advertising grows, native advertising has gained significant attention as a means to counteract this rejection. Native advertising is designed to seamlessly blend with other content on the page where they are displayed. They mimic the overall design and presentation of the platform, providing a natural exposure to consumers. Many companies utilize native advertising, but there is not much academic research on this topic. Therefore this study aims to examine the effectiveness of native advertising for social issues. The study looked at two types of native advertising: ads created by a company and ads sponsored by a company. Results suggested that consumers showed more positive attitudes towards a company's ads if they were sponsored by the company rather than created by the company. This study argued that this effect would be more pronounced for consumers who tended to buy ethically. To verify these hypotheses an online experiment was conducted revealing that on average consumers displayed the same attitude toward a company whether the native advertising was created or sponsored by a company. However, it was also discovered that consumers with a tendency for ethical consumerism formed more positive attitudes toward companies when the company sponsored native advertising as opposed to having created it. In practice, this study suggests how companies can improve the effectiveness of native advertising, such as implementing native advertising as a sponsor and being transparent about their advertising to appeal to consumers with high ethical consumption tendencies. This study expands the scope of research in areas related to native adverting and corporate social responsibilities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.54-69
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• 2022

We conducted a field survey from 2018 to 2020 to analyze the spatial distribution of phytoplankton communities at 13 stations in the East Sea. The diatom Chaetoceros curvisetus appeared as the dominant species in winter, and small flagellates less than 20 ㎛ prevailed in all seasons except winter. The seasonal average range of the micro (>20 ㎛), nano (20 ㎛≥Chl-a>3 ㎛), and picophytoplankton (≤3 ㎛) was 20.6-26.2%, 27.1-35.9%, and 40.8-49.0%, respectively. The composition ratio of nano and picophytoplankton was high at the surface mixed layer from spring to autumn when the water columns were strongly stratified. Especially, the stability of the water mass was increased when the summer surface water temperature was higher than that of the previous year. As a result, the nutrient inflow from the lower layer to the surface was reduced as the ocean stratification layer was strengthened. Therefore, the composition ratio of nano and picophytoplankton was the highest at 77.9% at the surface mixed layer. In conclusion, the structure of the phytoplankton community in the East Sea has been miniaturized, which is expected to form a complex microbial food web structure and lower the carbon transfer rate to the upper consumer stage.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.210-222
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• 2023

This study conducted a comparative study using Korean and Chinese consumer data to confirm the impact of K-beauty brand's CSR motivation on CSR authenticity and brand trust, and the effect of CSR authenticity and brand trust on brand support. Of the collected data, 392 copies were used for verification and analyzed using a two-step approach and maximum likelihood measure. As a result of the study, it was found that value-driven, stakeholder-driven, and strategic motivations, excluding egoistic motivations, had a positive effect on CSR authenticity and brand trust. In addition, CSR authenticity had a positive effect on brand trust, which was found to support the brand. As a result of comparing Korean and Chinese consumers, it was found that CSR motives in both countries affect authenticity and brand trust, but Chinese consumers showed higher results in more areas than Korean consumers. These results show that K-beauty brands in order to expand the Chinese market, it has implications that it is necessary to understand Chinese consumers and strengthen the CSR motivation strategy they pursue.