The Antecedents and Consequences of Korean Brand Equity in Myanmar: Focusing on Country of Origin Image and Advertising Awareness

Abstract

Purpose - Brand equity has emerged as an indispensable marketing tool for firms engaging their business in developing nations. This study proposes that the country of origin image and advertising will affect the Korean brand equity formation, which leads to repurchase intention of Korean brands. In the study, attitude factors are applied in brand equity theory to predict repurchase intention of Korean brands. Cognitive brand equity, such as brand awareness, brand association, brand image and attitudinal brand equity, such as perceived quality and brand loyalty are considered with regards to their attitude towards the Korean brand. Design/methodology - A total of 178 Myanmar consumers out of 200 participants who have used Korean brands answered the survey and data were analyzed through SmartPLS 3.3.2 version. PLS-SEM is considered a more suitable analysis to pin down and evaluate the cause-effect relationship among all of the constructs with relatively complex models. Findings - Our results substantiate that the country of origin image positively affects brand awareness, brand associations, and brand image and advertising awareness positively affects brand awareness. Brand awareness gives positive effect only on brand association, which sustains a positive effect on brand image and brand loyalty. Brand image only has a positive effect on perceived quality, which again affects repurchase intention and brand loyalty. Brand loyalty also shows a positive effect on repurchase intention. Originality/value - Brand equity dimensions were viewed as cognitive and attitudinal outcomes of brand equity which affects repurchase intention. The drivers of brand equity were considered from the perspective of country of origin image that firms cannot control or mange, and advertising awareness which firms can control and manage. The findings also explored the relationships between cognitive and attitudinal brand equity.