• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.657-670
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• 2011

China has gone through rapid economic growth due to transitional economies since 1978. In particular, Chinese transitional economies has led to fundamental changes in firms' activities under the socialist system. Nevertheless, Chinese firms have formed new industrial production organizations and spatial orders by sustaining personal networks based on existing traditional firm practice, which is called 'guanxi'. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to identify the influence of personal networks, guanxi, on the business activities of Chinese firms by investigating the formation of guanxi mechanism. The main characteristics of guanxi represented in inter-firm relations are as follows. First, guanxi has played a role in facilitating inter-firm relations and business activities, because it has an inter-debt relations based on inter-reciprocal relations between firms. Second, Chinese firms has depended on posteriori guanxi rather than inherent guanxi by the internalization of personal networks through 'guanxi communicators'.Third, guanxi between firms and local government in extra-firm relations has been established to minimize risks from unstable legal regulations.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.228-239
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• 2012

Guanxi could be regarded as communities based on blood, regionalism, school ties centering on individual person. It has been used as a means of personal interests security and acquisition. What is more, it has formed a mode of socio-economic order, which is an inter-obligation relations based on mutual benefits. In practice, it is necessary to understand and accept guanxi in China, as it is a key factor to understand consumer patterns, inter-firm relations and extra-firm relations between firm and government. In this context, the main aim of the reserach is to identify the impact of guanxi on the business activities of Korean foreign direct investment firms in China by investigating their networks based on guanxi.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-108
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• 2008

A analytical framework is suggested to explain how different standardization each country makes with incorporation of institutional elements such as the state's intervention and inter-firm relations which are considered to have a significant effect on it. Application to mobile telecommunication industry of the framework shows that different innovation system has its own technological standardization. In isolated inter-firm relation system, standardization is achieved through market but in cooperative one, through coordinating activities between participant firms. The state, however, intervenes more deeply in standardization and inter-firm relations are shorter in state-led and isolated firm relation system than in state-led and cooperative firm relation system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.321-332
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• 2004

The purpose of this research is to introduce the concept of "relationship formation factors" in inter-firm relations and to empirically demonstrate that they are effective in improving the relationship results by means of anmediating variable. Therefore, the basic model of this study consists of the independent, mediating, and dependent variables. First, the independent variable, that is, the relationship formation factors, is further classified into three components： transactional, relational, environmental characteristics. Then, the study empirically examines how each of the three components influences the dependent variable, that is, the business performance(Load Factor), by way of the mediating variables, that is, trust and relationship commitment.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.373-384
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• 2004

The purpose of this research is to introduce the concept of "relationship formation factors" in inter-firm relations and to empirically demonstrate that they are effective in improving the relationship results by means of an mediating variable. Therefore, the basic model of this study consists of the independent, mediating, and dependent variables. First, the independent variables, that is, the relationship formation factors, are further classified into three components. transactional, relational, and environmental characteristics. Then, the study empirically examines how each of the three components influences the dependent variable. that is, the business performance(Load Factor), by way of the mediating variables, that is, trust and relationship commitment.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.421-437
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• 2009

China has transformed her strategies for economic development from exogenous development founded on foreign capitals to endogenous development based on enhancing technology innovation capabilities since 2000. More specifically, Chinese business activities have coupled with new institutional settings which enable them to facilitate advanced technology and management methods. As a result, the characteristics of the spatial economy in China are likely to transfer from export-led developmental space to technology-oriented developmental space. In this context, this paper aims to identify the characteristics of technology-oriented space by investigating intra-, inter- and extra-firms relations of Korean FDI firms in Shanghai, China. In terms of intra-firm relations, Korean FDI firms adopted strategies for maximizing business efficiency and effectiveness by transforming their personal networks into formal networks. In terms of inter-firm relations, the distinction of Korean FDI firms' networks has been found in accordance with firm size, industrial sectors, ways of investment etc. Finally, Korean FDI firms has formal networks resulted from institutional involvement, as well as informal (personal) networks based on guanxi (inter-personal relations) in extra-firm relations. Therefore, two types of processes affecting the networks and institutional legacies of the Soviet system can be identified. First is the interaction of institutions and restructuring of pre-existing networks. Second is the insulated institutions and endurance of preexisting networks. And these two governance types have created regional economies which are embedded and over-embedded.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.556-572
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• 2015

Since the late 1990s dualistic spatial structure has been configurated in Icheon ceramic industrial space due to the articulation of transmitted ceramics space rooted from imitating the Goryeo and Joseon ceramics and contemporary ceramics space based on academic ceramic arts. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to identify the formation of dualistic space in Icheon by investigating the development paths of ceramic industry in historical perspectives and analyzing inter- and extra-firm relations in Icheon. The main results of this research are as follows. Firstly, the development path of transmitted ceramics has declined gradually, while the development path of contemporary ceramics has been embedded in Icheon region. Secondly, the research pointed out that networks of transmitted ceramics and contemporary ceramics are different in the perspectives of inter-firm and extra-firm relations. Thirdly, the government has played a critical role as a financial and administrative supporter and as a network broker between university and Icheon ceramic firms(mainly with transmitted ceramics) for technological cooperation and collaborative R&D.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.332-364
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• 2010

External linkages affect the performance of small and medium enterprises in diverse ways. This study delves into the impact of inter-organizational collaboration by looking at different facets of performance, such as innovation, sales growth, profit growth, and firm survival. In addition, it explores the influence of informal knowledge spillover from collaborative partners as well as from formal collaborations. The impact is carefully investigated by dividing firm samples into three different sectoral innovation categories: supplier-dominant, production-intensive, and science-based sector suggested by Pavitt (1984). The result highlights the different influence pattern of collaborative relations by partner types according to sectoral categories. The positive results of collaborating with universities and public institutions are identified, and the sales growth by customer linkage is witnessed. The impact is apparent in science-based sectors. The result implies that the risk associated with collaborating with competitors may be moderated by linking performance enhancing collaborative linkages with universities and government institutes.

• Strategy21
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• s.34
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• pp.128-148
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• 2014

In south Korea, the so-called 'conservative-liberal' rivalry over the assessment of the government's North Korean policies is seen to be impeding the road to right policy choices. For example, the liberals accused former President Lee Myung-bak's hardline policy of provoking Pyongyang and leading to a deterioration of inter-Korean relations, while the conservatives appreciated it for helping nurture mutually beneficial inter-Korean relations in the longer term by compelling North Korea to observe international norms. However, such debate over the vices and virtues of Seoul's North Korea policies is hardly meaningful as the measuring sticks used by the liberals and the conservatives are entirely different matters. The two major goals South Korea must pursue with its North Korean policies should be 'peaceful management of division' and 'change in North Korea'. The former is related to maintaining stability within South Korea and promoting co-prosperity with North Korea. For this, the nation needs to engage, encompass and assist the Pyongyang regime. The second goal is also necessary since South Korea, as a divided nation, must seek a unified Korea under the system of democracy and market economies by bringing change in North Korea. For this, South Korea needs powerful leverages with which it can persuade and coerce the North. This means that the nation is destined to simultaneously chase the above-mentioned two goals, while also both recognizing and negating the legitimacy of the North Korean regime. This situation necessitates Seoul to apply flexibility in reconciling with Pyongyang while applying firm principles to sever the vicious circle involving the North's military provocations. The May 25 Measures, which banned trade and economic cooperation with the North except those related to humanitarian assistance, were taken as sanctions against Pyongyang for sinking the South Korean corvette Chonan in March 2010. The Measures were taken by the Seoul government immediately after a multinational investigation team discovered evidence confirming that the South Korean naval ship had been torpedoed by a midget North Korean submarine. Naturally, the May 24 Measures have since then become a major stumbling block in inter-Korean exchange, prompting opposition politicians and concerned entrepreneurs to demand Seoul to unilaterally lift the Measures. Given the significant damages the Measures have inflicted on inter-Korean economic relations, removing them remains as homework for both Koreas. However, the Measures pertains to the 'principles on national security' the Seoul government must adhere to under all circumstances. This is why North Korea's apology and promises not to repeat similar provocations must come first. For now, South Korea has no alternative but to let North Korea solve the problems it has created. South Korea's role is to help the North do so.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.77-98
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• 2018

The purpose of this paper is examine the existing relations structure and IT use for collaboration activities on supply chain and their impacts on the performance of supply chain. This study made a design of the research model that was further constructed by integrating the relationship structure, IT exploration, IT exploitation, supply chain collaboration, absorptive capacity, and knowledge creation, efficiency and efficient. The survey data were collected from 378 companies, where firms are facing increased global competitive pressure and heavily utilize SCM to retain their competitive advantages. The authors validated a measurement model with structural equation modelling and tested eight hypotheses. As a result, the absorptive capacity was closely related to trust, IT exploitation and IT exploration, but supply chain collaboration. Examining the effect of supply chain collaboration with two types of absorptive capacity, the authors found positive effect on potential absorptive capacity, but a non-significant effect on realized absorptive capacity. This finding suggests that the improving performance of supply chain not only is related to the relations structure and IT use on supply chain, but also is closely related to the absorptive capacity.