• Journal of Korea Trade
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.1-26
• /
• 2019

Purpose - This paper investigates the recent trade collapse, recovery, and prolonged slowdown to shed light on the discussions about whether the current slowdown is structural or cyclical. I examine structural, cyclical, and heterogeneous aspects of the recent trade trends using detailed statistics of a small open economy, South Korea, whose economic success and growth have been heavily dependent on exports. Design/methodology - I use both aggregated and disaggregated trade statistics of South Korea. I apply the following methodologies: 1) I decompose the trade growth into the extensive and the intensive margin and observe the effect of prices over time. 2) I estimate the trade-income elasticities focusing on the world's import demand, separately for goods from the world and from Korea. 3) I compare the drop in goods exports in slowdown and trade collapse, which are the two unusual periods in the recent history when world trade has substantially dropped altogether. Findings - I show that while the last drop of trade after 2015 has cyclical aspects, there is evidence that the continued slowdown from 2012 is structural: 1) the so-called 'China factor' is found in the analysis of trade-income elasticity of the world and China for imports from Korea. 2) The bilateral trade barriers between Korea and its principal trading partners are universally tightening. 3) Firm sizes, destination countries, and the mode of transactions affect disaggregated trade flows during the slowdown periods. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the debate regarding whether the current trade slowdown is structural or cyclical. I provide two concrete evidence that the export drop in 2015 stems from low oil prices: one is the divergence of Korean export value index from its export quantity index, which started in late 2014 when oil prices plunged. I also contribute to the literature by providing evidence that Korea's trade barriers with important trading partners are steadily increasing since 2012 as the protectionist measures toward Korea's export products are steeply increasing after the global financial crisis.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.107-127
• /
• 2017

This paper aims to analyze comparing the international competitiveness of Korea and China of ICT 10 goods in ASEAN Big 6 countries.(Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines). In this study, we investigate major trends in Korea's ICT goods through various data analysis and evaluate. From 2009 to 2016, As analyzed by ESI, CTB, and EMS, This paper showed Korea has increased its export, EMS and Export Competitiveness to ASEAN. However, due to rapid imports, the trade balance deteriorated and ESI decreased. China showed signs of improvement in international competitiveness, although exports, ESI and EMS were declining. Compared to South Korea, China has seen less export bias to ASEAN. ASEAN is becoming an increasingly important trade partner in Korea's ICT exporting. This paper points out several policy implications drawn from its analyses and findings.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.353-372
• /
• 2008

The economic development system of Korea is based on export-oriented strategy and the free trade agreement. So Korea is trying to conclude the free trade agreement with China, Japan, and EU. The reason is that Korea will have more chances to develop there economy scale and trade surplus, but it will give the worst economic situation. The research showed that the effects of FTA on Korea's GDP will be much greater than China's and Korea's trade surplus with China will expand in the manufacturing sector, but agricultural and marine products are layed in opposite situation. Especially comparing with other Provincial, Gwangju Jeonnam has a relative importance portion of agricultural and marine products. So, Gwangju Jeonnam have to prepare the effects of agricultural and marine products under the Korea China FTA.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
• /
• v.37
• /
• pp.161-185
• /
• 2008

In 2006, the share of fisheries distribution in Busan amounted to 1.9 million ton, which was 41 percent of the whole country. In details, coastal fishery 334 thousand ton(14% of the whole country), deep sea fishery 452 thousand ton(82%), import fishery 964 thousand ton(70%), export fishery 157 thousand ton(43%) were distributed in Busan region, respectively. According to distribution share, import(50%), deep sea fishery(24%), coastal fishery(18%), export(8%) are main category of fisheries distribution in Busan. After the institutional changes in 1997, that is, from monopoly to the competitive systems are implemented, the share of sales volume through a home trust market decreased gradually since 2000. Especially, the share of direct sales in farming fisheries sector amounted to 73.8 percent of total production volume, 80.7 percent of production value in 2005. Furthermore, the share of fisheries sale through e-commerce is increasing owing to the growth of IT and competitive price of its products. and the sale share of large discount store is also on the 10% more increase. Hereafter these structure changes of fisheries distribution in Busan will be more intensified. Therefore, after reflecting the change in distribution policy of Busan Fisheries, the directions of distribution policy should be established, as follows. $\cdot$ Distribution policy to prepare for increasing of non-trust market sales $\cdot$ Fisheries distribution policy to prepare for increasing of direct transaction like e-commerce $\cdot$ Distribution policy to prepare for increasing of sales ratio in large discount store $\cdot$ Distribution policy for making up sound purchasing circumstance of Fisheries $\cdot$ Distribution policy for reducing the fisheries distribution cost $\cdot$ Distribution policy to prepare for increasing of direct carrying the deep sea fisheries and import fisheries to Seoul and $Inch'{\breve{o}}n$ section $\cdot$ Distribution policy for implementing the information system for managing fisheries transaction $\cdot$ Distribution policy for advancing the export & import management of fisheries $\cdot$ Distribution policy for establishing transaction principle reflecting the peculiarity in fishery distribution(to enacting independent fishery law)

• Journal of Korea Trade
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.131-145
• /
• 2020

Purpose - The recent growth of South Korean products in the international market is the benchmark for both developed as well as developing countries. According to the development index, the role of international trade is indeed crucial for the development of the national economy. However, the visualization of the international trade profile of the country is the prerequisite of governmental policy decision-makers and guidance for forecasting of foreign trade. Design/methodology - We have utilized data visualization techniques in order to visualize the import & export product space and trade partners of South Korea. Economic Complexity Index (ECI) and Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) were used to identify the Korean international trade diversification, whereas the time series approach is used to forecast the economy and foreign trade variables. Findings - Our results show that Chine, U.S, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan are the leading trade partners of Korea. Overall, the ECI of South Korea is growing significantly as compared to China, Hong Kong, and other developed countries of the world. The expected values of total import and export volume of South Korea are approximately US$535.21 and US$ 781.23B, with the balance of trade US$ 254.02B in 2025. It was also observed from our analysis that imports & exports are equally substantial to the GDP of Korea and have a significant correlation with GDP, GDP per capita, and ECI. Originality/value - To maintain the growth rate of international trade and efficient competitor for the trade partners, we have visualized the South Korea trade profile, which provides the information of significant export and import products as well as main trade partners and forecasting.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.103-109
• /
• 2016

The information security industry is technology-intensive, high value-added industries. South Korea's response has excellent ICT skills and experience and skills in a variety of cyber attacks, has become a benchmark in the world. However, the small size of the domestic information security company, supporting infrastructure is lacking. Domestic information security industry is the primary condition to activate the export. For the export of high value-added enterprise information security products and services, it is necessary the establishment of the domestic IT information security infrastructure of the industrial promotion is based overseas. Come to analyze the domestic information security industry, capital of this small, market reclamation of overseas expansion, information, manpower shortage was a problem. This fact, combined losses caused by cost-free period AS. Therefore, the study on information security in the infrastructure industry overseas bases is necessary. How to select and analyze the causes of infrastructure in selected overseas offices. By utilizing the infrastructure of overseas bases, can raise the added value of the products and services of the Information Security company, we can enable the export of small and medium Information Security company from overseas offices.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.59-72
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study is to analyze the present condition of the Korean footwear industry, and its competitiveness through related precedent research. Research was done by analyzing data from the Korean Statistical Information Service, the Korea International Trade Association and advanced research about the footwear industry. Footwear markets all over the world are growing continuously. The main consumers are China, America and India. World footwear trade is showing a growth trend on the basis of cost and amount. The main exporting countries are China, Vietnam and Italy, while main importing countries are America, Germany and France. The domestic market and the export market of footwear in Korea are decreasing. The scale of exporting footwear is gradually decreasing, however the scale of importing footwear is increasing. Korea exports footwear to China, Vietnam and Japan and imports them from China, Vietnam and Indonesia. Studies concening the footwear industry implied that the competitiveness of Korea has been weakened both in the domestic and the export markets. To enhance the competitiveness of Korean footwear corporations, long-term support at the national level is needed. Especially, cultivating competitive experts is crucial to improve the competitiveness of designs and the quality of products. Furthermore, branding strategies using the Korean wave, Korean culture and the national image of Korea, as well as platform strategies to communicate with consumers globally and selling high-quality products are significant.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.34-42
• /
• 1991

Protection of tropical forest affects on significant reduce of tropical hardwood supply, and softwood resources will be increasingly important for the timber security in Korea. U.S. softwood log was most favorite species for Korean softwood log importers in overall import conditions except price stablization and consistency of export policy. Reduced export volume from Pacific Northwest to Korean market has been immediately replenished by rediata pine from New Zealand and Chilean plantation. Siberian timber will hardly play major roles in Korean timber market unless budding structure. softwood plywood and softwood furniture uses are enhanced. Recent rapid rise of labor cost and reducing tariff rrate in Korea provided better opportunities for import lumber in building materials market. Dry dimension lumber was relatively profitable when processed from import U.S. soft-wood log while green lumber was favorable products processed from radiata pine log in Korean lumber market. This means U.S. softwood lumber would have better opportunity to market for '2${\times}$'4 studs when wood frame housing is introduced. On the other hand while radiata pine is competitive on temporary construction lumber such as supporter and concrete forming frame in Korea. Shortage of raw material for the new capacity of board plants in Korea will be it bottle neck. Major log export countries to Korea as U.S. New Zealand and Chile showed high trade intensity indices of composite hoard produces for Korean market. As Korea efforts to diversify import sources, and tariffs are reduced to 8% as scheduled by 1994. countries of scoring higher comparative advantages as Portugal. Brazil, Austria as well as New Zealand will have better opportunity to penetrate into promised Korean composites hoard market.

• International Commerce and Information Review
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.311-332
• /
• 2016

This study aims to analyze the influences of KS certification system on export performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Korea. The analysis may contribute to enhance export competitiveness of Korean SMEs. Based on previous studies for environment-specific and business-specific determinants regarding KS certification system, this study analyzed six factors influencing on export performance of Korean SMEs. For empirical tests, this study used frequency, validity, reliability, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS 21.0. The results of analysis could be summarized as follows. Managerial mind had influence on KS certification system, whereas employee's awareness on standard was influential to the same categories. Another business-specific factor, KS certification education & training, affected factors of general standardization of KS certification system. General standardization of KS certification factor had effects on export strategic performance. This empirical study presents following implications for small and medium businesses. First, considering that SME management mind proved to be influencing all variables, the concerned SME CEOs are required to support and encourage intra-standardization of KS certification mind within the company to improve their export performance. Second, to better the export performance, SMEs not only need to support, but also to provide education of KS certification to raise awareness on standardization among the employees. Third, ISO certification as well as intra-business standardized system for FTA-related works are highly encouraged to put into use to improve the quality of products.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.121-129
• /
• 2024

This study aimed to focus on the optimization of the external dimension sizes in the corrugated fiberboard cartons (CFCs) for exporting agricultural products. The commercial CFCs of current fresh produces such as paprika, Asian pear, melon, sweet potato, and oriental melon for export were used for this study. The guidelines of the minimum internal dimensions of the refrigerated reefer container, the dimensions of pallets, and the maximum load height of a stack were referred to KS T ISO 668, KS T 1372, and the Container Handbook by the German Insurance Association, respectively. These principles were selected as a ground rule for the external dimensions of CFCs. Package layout design programs of ArtiosCAD and Cape Pack software were used to confirm the box stacking patterns and revise the external dimension of CFCs. The final external dimensions of each CFC were revised from 5 to 30 mm compared to its original dimensions. The maximum load of each stacking box per pallet has been increased from 0.0 to 12.5% compared to its original load.