Korean Companies Research Articles

IPEF를 통한 협력증진과 한국 무역확대관계의 연구

Purpose - The goal on this study is related to seeking the direction of development of the Korean economy through the promotion of cooperation through IPEF and a study of Korea's trade expansion relations.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - Joint efforts to cope with global climate change and consequent changes in the trade order within the IPEF, and the strengths of Korean IT companies in the digital field can be demonstrated. It is also utilized as a global production base, and strengthening cooperation is positive for Korean trade. For example, it will be a basis for trends and estimates of Korean investments in new corporations in Vietnam. Data from 2016 to 2022 are from to The State Bank of Vietnam, and estimates for 2023 through this data correspond to estimatea according to (1, 1, 0) of the ARIMA model.
 Findings - As a result, it is predicted that the investment expansion of new corporation investment in Vietnam by Korean companies, which exceeded 31.8% in 2022, can be further expanded in 2023.
 Research Implications - The promotion of cooperation between Korean exporting companies and regional countries through IPEF is essential for securing core raw materials for semiconductors and electric vehicles in Southeast Asia, USMCA, and South America. In addition, Korean trade will be able to continue to find strengthening ties with technologically advanced countries on carbon reduction in response to the EU's ESG management.

(Invited) Current Status of SOFC Deployment and Technology Developments in Korea

In Korea, the supply of stationary fuel cells for power generation is being promoted by the mandatory RPS program. The deployment of fuel cells in Korea began in 2012. Currently, fuel cells of about 880 MW have been supplied. Among them, the amount of SOFC system is about 220 MW, and the SOFC installation started in 2014. About 40 MW in 2021 and 50 MW in 2022 were installed. The deployment of residential SOFCs has just begun, and a small number of systems have been deployed. In Korea, fuel cell deployment is accelerated by the mandatory supply amount allocated to power generation companies by the RPS policy, and in addition, the clean energy supply promotion regulation granted to public buildings partially contributes to fuel cell supply. Several Korean companies have developed the SOFC and SOEC technologies under the national program, and major projects are the development of a 200 kW SOFC and a 20 kW SOEC systems. The 2~8kW class SOFC products have been developed already and are in deployment. In Korea, SOEC demonstration is being also promoted to store electricity generated from renewable energy, and about 1.5MW SOEC is scheduled to be demonstrated by 2024. The Korean government enacted the Hydrogen Law in 2019, and under this law, development and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell-related technologies are in progress. In addition, a hydrogen roadmap was established as an implementation plan to encourage achievement of the deployment targets. In this talk, the achievements of the SOFC R&D and deployment, and national hydrogen roadmap in Korea are introduced in more detail.

Does ESG investing pay‐off? An analysis of the Eurozone area before and during the Covid‐19 pandemic

AbstractWe examine whether the stock return performance of 620 Eurozone companies based on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings both before and during the Covid‐19 pandemic on both a nominal and risk adjusted basis. We also look at how country level governance indicators interact with our samples of ESGHigh and ESGLow companies to affect both nominal and risk adjusted investment returns. We use both panel data and cross‐sectional regressions as well as the difference‐in‐differences approach to derive the empirical results. We generally find some evidence that highly rated ESG firms performed slightly worse than lower rated ESG both overall and during the pandemic. However, once we control for governance at the country level, we find that in high governance scoring countries ESGHigh companies perform better than ESGLow companies. Finally, when we examine the relative performance of EU companies compared to companies in economies less impacted by the Covid‐19 pandemic, namely South Korea and Australia, we find that during the pandemic, the South Korean and Australian companies performed much better than their counterparts in Europe.

Sustainability Management through Corporate Social Responsibility Activities in the Life Insurance Industry: Lessons from the Success Story of Kyobo Life Insurance in Korea

The current reality is that Korean insurance companies primarily focus on simplistic social contribution activities, such as making donations, rather than attaining sustainable management practices. So based on the case study methodology, this study examines the CSR activities of Kyobo Life Insurance for sustainable management and investigates how corporate values are aligned with the nature of the industry. The research analyzes Kyobo Life Insurance’s CSR initiatives across three dimensions: environmental, social, and economic, with a focus on sustainable management. The analysis identifies three distinct CSR characteristics of Kyobo Life Insurance. Firstly, the company demonstrates more active engagement in social initiatives compared to the environmental and economic aspects. Secondly, while prioritizing sustainable management through collaborative efforts with major stakeholders, the company exhibits a relatively greater emphasis on CSR activities targeting internal stakeholders. Lastly, since 2011, the company has been an industry leader in annually publishing sustainable management reports, showcasing its commitment to stakeholder communication and co-prosperity. The study suggests that life insurance companies should enhance their CSR activities to ensure greater sustainability and effectiveness while also providing guidance for companies to adapt to evolving industrial landscapes.

Direct indicators of social distancing effectiveness in COVID-19 outbreak stages: a correlational analysis of case contacts and population mobility in Korea.

The effectiveness of social distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been evaluated using the magnitude of changes in population mobility. This study aimed to investigate a direct indicator-namely, the number of close contacts per patient with confirmed COVID-19. From week 7, 2020 to week 43, 2021, population movement changes were calculated from the data of two Korean telecommunication companies and Google in accordance with social distancing stringency levels. Data on confirmed cases and their close contacts among residents of Gyeonggi Province, Korea were combined at each stage. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to compare the movement data with the change in the number of contacts for each confirmed case calculated by stratification according to age group. The reference value of the population movement data was set using the value before mid-February 2020, considering each data's characteristics. In the age group of 18 or younger, the number of close contacts per confirmed case decreased or increased when the stringency level was strengthened or relaxed, respectively. In adults, the correlation was relatively low, with no correlation between the change in the number of close contacts per confirmed case and the change in population movement after the commencement of vaccination for adults. The effectiveness of governmental social distancing policies against COVID-19 can be evaluated using the number of close contacts per confirmed case as a direct indicator, especially for each age group. Such an analysis can facilitate policy changes for specific groups.

Research on the Investment of Chinese and Korean Enterprises in the Middle East Arab Market

Purpose - The Middle East is experiencing constant international conflict. Still, with global investment attracting much attention, trade continues to increase, and the image of war-torn areas is changing gradually.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - Many countries in the Middle East are opening up their markets from oil and state monopolies, trying to attract investment and participate in the construction of diversified domestic industries.
 Findings - These countries are actively promoting that they are safe and reliable investors, regardless of regional conflicts, when political instability or tension in certain regions of the Middle East increases. In addition, Korean and Chinese companies are increasingly interested in the Middle East due to increased economic exchanges between Arab countries and China, increased investment in infrastructure by oil-producing countries, and increased imports and exports of Korean products. However, companies seeking access to Middle Eastern markets often face more complex problems than when they entered other regions.
 Research Implications - Investment in the Middle East market depends on the needs of related companies and governments in the Middle East, so it isn't easy to find a common point of contact. The number of Arab countries in the Middle East, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Qatar, and Palestine, is estimated to be about 20. By analyzing the practicality and applicability of commercial and corporate laws in these countries, we will give some legal issues that Chinese and Korean companies should pay attention to when investing in the Middle East market.

비즈니스 한국어교육을 위한 메타버스 플랫폼 기초 연구

Recently, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education has adopted Korean as the first foreign language elective course in elementary, middle, and high schools, and the number of learners who want to learn Korean is steadily increasing as the number of Korean companies entering Vietnam increases. In particular, as the number of Vietnamese Korean learners for employment increased, the need for business Korean language education increased. Accordingly, this study analyzed the case of the metaverse platform for language education, conducted a metaversebased mock interview with Vietnamese Korean language major students wishing to get a job at a Korean company, and then investigated the demand for the platform. Based on this, a metaverse platform model consisting of vocabulary and grammar classrooms by level, 3D simulation space by subject, and live social space was proposed. This study can be used as a basis for producing a metaverse platform for future business Korean language education.

The Influence of the Attributes of Electric Vehicles on Brand Image, Consumer Attitude, and Purchase Intention: Focusing on the Moderating Effects of ESG Management

Purpose - Direct and indirect factors affecting purchase of electric vehicles, and potential factors affecting purchase intention are studied. The effects of electric car attributes (functionality, economy, design, safety), brand image, and consumer attitude on electric car purchase intention was examined. The mediating effect of brand image and consumer attitude is examined. In addition, the moderating effect of ESG management between attributes and the brand image of electric vehicles was examined.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - Electric vehicle attributes were set as independent variables, and purchase intentions were set as dependent variables. In addition, the mediating effect of brand image and consumer attitude and the moderating effect of ESG management were considered. An empirical study was conducted targeting Chinese consumers, and multiple regression analysis was used as the research methodology.
 Findings - The attributes of electric vehicles (functionality, economy, design, safety) had a significant effect on brand image and purchase intention. Among the attributes of electric vehicles, economic feasibility, design, and safety had a significant positive (+) effect on consumer attitudes. Brand image and consumer attitude showed a positive (+) mediating effect between electric vehicle attributes and purchase intention. Further, the moderating effect of ESG management showed a positive moderating effect only between functionality and brand image.
 Research Implications - The study provides academic, practical, and policy implications for establishing an electric vehicle marketing strategy in the Chinese market. In particular, it is meaningful to marketing and distribution strategies for foreign companies, including Korean companies that wish to advance into China.

베트남 메콩델타 지역 농산물 물류센터 추진전략에 관한 연구

Can Tho City, the fifth largest city in Vietnam and located at the hub of the Mekong Delta region, is located 160km west of Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam, and the southern part of the Hasu River, the first tributary of the Mekong River. The area is 1,439 ㎢, and the climate is hot and humid and the topography is flat, making it an environment suitable for agricultural and marine product production. Agricultural products, a major item of Vietnam's primary industry, are a major handling item in the Mekong Delta region, including Can Tho City. In order to determine the direction for the development of logistics development in the Mekong Delta region and Can Tho City, field surveys and detailed data surveys, consultations with related organizations such as Can Tho City, and development experiences and opinions of Korean companies that have entered Vietnam were listened to. As a result, building an Agricultural Products Processing Center (APC) was identified as a priority. As a result of the AHP analysis, in the major categories, ‘securing infrastructure’ was rated as 0.642, which was evaluated as overwhelmingly more important than other items. Next, ‘preparation of government support policy’ was 0.188, and ‘establishment of smart logistics operating system’ was 0.170. In the sub-category of securing major category infrastructure, 'transport network connected to logistics center' was evaluated as 0.383, the most important item, followed by 'storage facility' (0.241), 'gathering and delivery facility' (0.233), and 'support facility' (0.143). Subsequently, based on the results of the AHP survey, this study presented the development strategies for the agricultural logistics center in Can Tho City by dividing it into short-term, mid-term, and long-term. In the short term, it was proposed to focus on building logistics center infrastructure and linked transportation infrastructure, and in the mid term, an efficient system operation plan for agricultural logistics center was suggested. In the long term, support policies for companies using agricultural logistics center and the establishment of food industry clusters in the hinterland were proposed. This study presents a strategy for promoting an agricultural logistics center in Can Tho City, the central city of the Mekong Delta region. It is expected that it will be used as a reference material.

Women Managers and the Gender Wage Gap: Workgroup Gender Composition Matters

Women's representation in managerial positions is a common metric for gender equity in organizations. Whether women managers improve gender equity among their subordinates is, however, less clear. Drawing on rich longitudinal personnel data from a large Korean food company, we provide new insight into this question by focusing attention on key micro-contexts for interaction and relational politics within organizations: workgroups. Building on social-psychological theories about in-group preference and value threats, we theorize that workgroup gender composition conditions the relationship between supervisor gender and gender earnings differentials. Results from regression models with workgroup fixed effects confirm this insight. Women supervisors are associated with smaller gender earnings gaps in workgroups when they are male-dominated. This relationship is stronger for less-advantaged workers, with supervisor gender and workgroup gender composition mattering more for “sticky floors” than “glass ceilings.”

한일 경제협력의 변화 과정과 향후 방향

Purpose: The purposes of this study are to identify the process of change in Korea-Japan economic cooperation through cooperation projects carried out by Korea-Japan Cooperation Foundation for Industry and Technology (KJCF) over the past 30 years, and to explore the future direction of Korea-Japan economic cooperation.
 Research design, data, and methodology: This study analyzed the Korea-Japan cooperation projects that KJCF has implemented for 30 years from 1993 to 2022. It classified 819 annual projects of KJCF into three areas based on large classification, 14 project groups based on medium classification, and 187 individual projects based on sub-classification. The three areas of the large classification were Technology Cooperation, Infrastructure-forming Human Exchange, and Trade & Investment Cooperation and Others. This study divided 30 years into three stages: the first stage from 1993 to 2002, the second stage from 2003 to 2012, and the third stage from 2013 to 2022. Then, changes in the economic environment were examined in terms of trade, direct investment, human exchange, and manufacturing competitiveness.
 Results: As a result of the analysis, it was found that the gap in manufacturing competitiveness between Korea and Japan began to be large, but gradually narrowed in the first and second stages, almost closing the gap in the third stage. Under these environmental changes, KJCF has implemented projects suitable for each stage, and the characteristics of the cooperative projects were defined as General-purpose Technology Adoption Type in the first stage, Application Technology Adoption Type in the second stage, and Adopted Technology Utilization Type in the third stage. In the first stage, there was a big difference in manufacturing competitiveness between Korea and Japan, so KJCF promoted projects that helped Korean companies adopt general-purpose technologies from Japan. Then, in the second stage, projects that helped Korean firms adopt application technology from Japan were executed, and in the third stage, projects where Korean companies could utilize the adopted technology were implemented with the manufacturing competitiveness gap almost disappeared. Furthermore, this changing pattern in KJCF projects was also confirmed in the medium classification analysis.
 Implications: This study looked at the process of changing economic cooperation between Korea and Japan through KJCF projects implemented in response to given environment for each period. As a result, it can be said that those projects have contributed to improving the competitiveness of Korean companies. In fact, the competitiveness gap between Korea and Japan has been almost disappeared in the third stage, and this has important implications for the future direction of Korea-Japan economic cooperation. Accordingly, as to the future direction of economic cooperation between Korea and Japan, this study emphasized the need for reciprocal win-win type cooperation and further presented three points from the perspective of government policy and corporate strategy. First, policy support and corporate efforts are needed to revitalize Korea-Japan economic cooperation in new business areas such as IT, software, new energy, etc. Second, the governments need to help industry associations in two countries form foundation for business cooperation and companies need to cooperate each other under the assistance of those associations. Third, it was suggested that the governments need to provide communication infrastructure for Korean and Japanese companies to explore global markets through cooperation and that companies need to implement cooperative strategy for expansion to global markets.

디지털 탄소 여정 맵 제안

The Korean government and companies are adopting a digital-based approach to achieve carbon neutrality by transforming their industrial structure (i.e. digital transformation). However, as the demand for contactless online services increases, so does the level of network and data usage, leading to a rapid rise in overall carbon emissions within the service environment. To mitigate these emissions, it is essential to incorporate an environmental perspective into the service provision environment. Given the limited amount of existing scholarly research on the environmental impacts of service improvement tools, this study proposes a toolkit for visualizing carbon emissions associated with customer usage. Specifically, a 'digital carbon journey map' is proposed, which integrates carbon emissions into the existing 'customer journey map'. This proposed framework enables a comprehensive analysis of services, taking into account both environmental considerations and customer satisfaction. Its objective is to provide a guidance for future eco-friendly service design and implementation.

(Invited) Current Status of SOFC Deployment and Technology Developments in Korea

The current deployment of stationary fuel cells in Korea is about 880 MW including the 220 MW SOFC systems, About 40 MW in 2021 and 50 MW in 2022 were installed respectively. In Korea, the fuel cell deployment is accelerated by the mandatory supply and the promotion regulations driven by government. Several Korean companies have developed the SOFC and SOEC technologies under the national program, and major projects are the development of a 200 kW SOFC and a 20 kW SOEC systems. The 2~8kW class SOFC products have been developed already and are in deployment. The Korean government enacted the Hydrogen Law in 2020, and under this law, development and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell-related technologies are in progress. The achievements of the SOFC R&D and deployment, and national hydrogen roadmap in Korea are introduced in more detail.

Effect of the Employees’ Mental Toughness on Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction: Mediating Psychological Well-Being

This study aims to examine the impact of mental toughness of employees on their psychological well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. A research model based on structural equation modeling ‘ developed, and a survey was conducted with 534 office workers in Korean companies to gather the data. The findings indicate that mental toughness has a significant effect on psychological well-being and positively (+) affects organizational commitment and job satisfaction through psychological well-being. The study also reveals that mental toughness has a greater influence on organizational commitment than on job satisfaction. However, the positive effect of job satisfaction was found to increase when psychological well-being was mediated. Consequently, this study recommends that employees’ mental toughness be managed effectively to improve their job satisfaction and organizational commitment, leading to enhanced job competency, and reduced turnover intention. These findings are of practical significance to organizational practitioners, as they underscore the importance of fostering mental toughness among employees to promote their well-being and commitment to their work.

한국 기업의 ESG 심화를 위한 NGO의 과제

This paper examines the role NGOs play for strenthening ESG in Korean business enterprises. In a global polycrisis, ESG is imperative for companies to adhere to carbon neutrality for future survival. I compare shareholder capitalism and stakeholder capitalism within the analytic framework of political representation system and interest intermediation system. Shareholder capitalism is grounded on free market economy where the state incorporates different group interests based on social pluralism. It is, by and large, characterized by local constituencies within the presidential system. In contrast, stakeholder capitalism runs on coordinated market economy where the relationship between the state and society can be seen as social corporatism. It is usually marked by proportional representation under the parliamentary system. This is one of the reasons why Anglo-Saxon shareholder capitalism needs ESG unlike the European stakeholder capitalism with ESG already embedded. There is a limit to ESG propelled by Korean companies. The most important reason is the fact that business enterprises are not ready to adopt stakeholder capitalism. Although Korean NGOs fall behind business enterprises in many capacities including resources and organization, the latters need to be monitored by the former that enlightens civil society for the understanding of the advantages of stakeholder capitalism. In conclusion, I propose a “critical cooperation” between NGOs and business enterprises for consolidating ESG.

Examining the Link between CSRD and FP in Korean Companies: The Moderating Effect of Company Reputation

This study investigates two key aspects of Korean companies. First, we examine the significance of the relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure and a company’s financial performance. Second, we explore the moderating role of company reputation in the link between corporate social responsibility disclosure and financial performance. We use data from Korean companies included in the Forbes Global 2000 list, employing a quantitative methodology and analyzing data from 66 Korean companies between 2017 and 2021. To estimate the relationship between the independent variable (corporate social responsibility disclosure) and the dependent variable (financial performance), we applied multiple regression models, using market value, sales, and net profit as control variables. Our study provides robust evidence of a positive and significant relationship between corporate social responsibility disclosure and the financial performance of Korean companies. We find that their influence is partially mediated by the company’s reputation, which serves as a signal of the firm’s ethical and social responsibility practices to stakeholders. Our results suggest that firms with a positive reputation for corporate social responsibility activities are more likely to experience enhanced financial performance, possibly due to increased stakeholder trust and loyalty, improved risk management, and enhanced access to capital.

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: AN ASSESSMENT OF PUTTING LEARNING INTO PRACTICE AMONG ALUMNI OF KOREA STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA

This article examines the application of learning among Korea Studies alumni, Department of East Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya. Among those are the application of Korean language at the work place, the application of Korean language in the higher degree programme and the application of Korean language in everyday life. In order to answer these questions, survey question method was adopted in this study to glean data for analysis and findings. Questionnaires were distributed to Korea Studies alumni from the first batch of graduates in 1999 until the recent one. The studies found that both knowledge of Korea Studies and language are important. Korean related course influences their way of thinking, open their mind and contributes to positive behaviour. The skills allow them to interact cross-culturally and understand the Korean mindset and their way of life. A good command of the language opens wider opportunities in career development as well. Currently, there are many employment opportunities for students proficient in Korean, from market research companies to social media outfits. Furthermore, post covid witnessed the rapid economic reconstruction of both Malaysia and South Korea and this resulted in the implementation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which opened more job opportunities in Malaysia. Therefore, graduates with Korean language skills can seize this opportunity and help the students to be competitive in the job market. The respondents suggested that students who wish to work with Korean companies be prepared with various language skills, such as taking a course in TOPIK Korean language before stepping into the real world.

한국의 대(對)인도네시아 수출경쟁력 분석 및 한·인도네시아 CEPA 활용방안에 관한 연구

Purpose: This study analyzes the export competitiveness of Korean products in the Indonesian market. It suggests ways to use the Korea-Indonesia CEPA.
 Research design, data, and methodology: Export statistics on the main products in auto parts and the steel and petrochemical industries are extracted in terms of HS 4 units from the International Trade Centre Trade Map. The Trade Specialization Index (TSI) is calculated for Korea and Indonesia, and the Market Comparative Advantage (MCA) index is calculated for Korea and ASEAN countries in the Indonesian market.
 Results: From analyzing the TSI, Korea is dominant in the Indonesian market. Under the MCA index, compared to ASEAN countries, Korea had an absolute advantage in steel products. However, the petrochemical sector is competitive, and the auto parts industry is inferior.
 Conclusions: The automotive parts industry and the steel products industry are predicted to increase their competitiveness, but the analysis showed it will not be easy. In addition, the petrochemical sector should be more aggressive in marketing Korean companies by using the KI-CEPA, because local companies in Indonesia are increasingly competitive.

A Study on Competitiveness Improvement of Chittagong Container Port

Purpose - Market structure is crucial to identify as it defines the market states for new and existing container ports to perform within a given region. the study aims to compare the major ports in the Bay of Bengal in the context of Chittagong Port.
 Design/methodology/approach - For this study, the past 9 years of container volume data have been collected and analyzed through the HHI index, BCG matrix and shift effect analysis. Based on the analysis, this study has found that the Chittagong Port is in an oligopoly competitive market structure.
 Findings - The findings have shown that port in low market share and low growth in very recent years with the moderately concentrated ports HHI index. The shift effect analysis shows that the container volumes shifted from one port to another in the 2019 and 2020 periods. This study is the pioneer study in the Bay of Bengal region to identify the market structure, analyze market share and growth, and analyze the market concentration.
 Research implications or Originality - Future recommendations for the port authority is to take advantage of geolocation; attract international; tax exemption, faster clearance process, reduced waiting charges; increasing storage and technological machinery; promoting maritime logistics education; promoting Chittagong tourism; collaboration with other countries. Also, this study can be used as basic data for the establishment of a new supply chain between Korea and Southwest Asia for the Korean government and companies.

Якими вбачаються корейські чоловіки? Перцепції серед мексиканських жінок, навіяні “корейською хвилею”

In contemporary Mexican society young people demonstrate strong consumption habits of entertainment products from Republic of Korea. The arrival of the first Korean cultural products dates back to 2002, however, it is impossible to pinpoint the specific date when the consumption of Korean entertainment products overgrew from the initial phase of Hallyu dissemination into the craze for K-pop and idol groups. During the last decade, the synergy between the potential of Korean companies and production houses, the social and the diplomatic networks of the Korean government and the digital transfer made it possible to transform this consumption into a global trend, with a telling effect on Mexican women. This research analyzes how the impact of cultural products from the Republic of Korea framed the Mexican women’s imaginaries of Korean men and how those imaginaries make them to consider those men as new ideal. The paper focuses on the ways in which Mexican women have come to regard the distinguishing masculinity features of present-day South Korean men as an aspiration object of an ideal man in the contemporary context. The concepts from cultural studies such as cultural industries, consumption, symbolic use and gender as a symbolic construct are used to analyze the data obtained through open online surveys. The questions were proposed to focus groups which openly show consumption of Korean cultural products.