Earticle

This article provides a comparative analysis of the webtoon sectors in South Korea and China, examines webtoon’s definition and the processes involved in the webtoon industry development in both countries, and identifies the effects of macroenvironmental factors on the industry in each country. The political, economic, social, and technological factors in the two nations are explored in detail. This paper explores the contrasting development of the webtoon industry in Korea and China as influenced by distinct macroenvironments. Moreover, the success factors of the webtoon industry in both countries are analyzed. In terms of the political environment, both the Korean and Chinese governments recognize the content industry as a future growth engine. In terms of the economic environment, Korea is creating economic benefits through intellectual property utilization or added value through one-source multi-uses based on webtoons in China and has high expectations for future growth potential. In terms of the social environment, the number of subscribers interested in webtoons in both countries has increased. In terms of the technical environment, both Korea and China, as advanced information technology countries, have high-quality technical skills related to webtoons, and the webtoon environment has been created through the popularization of smartphones. The government should focus on supporting webtoon professionals, as talent is the foundation of self-sustaining competitiveness. Only when self-sustaining competitiveness is strong can the webtoon industry continue to grow. Strict regulations on webtoon content can limit the development of webtoons by hindering their free-spirited characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to create an environment in which creative and diverse webtoon content can be created by easing regulations on webtoons.

In a world facing economic challenges and resource scarcity, the sharing economy has reemerged as a promising solution. This research examined the evolving landscape of the sharing economy in China, with a focus on secondhand trading platforms. These platforms play a central role in promoting resource recycling by allowing users to exchange unwanted goods efficiently. The appeal of secondhand trading lies in its affordability and the ability to negotiate prices directly with trading partners. The study shows that in China, the secondhand market is expanding rapidly with the growth of e-commerce. According to recent data, the number of secondhand e-commerce users is expected to reach 263 million by the end of 2022, with significant year-on-year growth. The volume of transactions is also expected to grow significantly, demonstrating the thriving secondhand market. TAM, a well-established theoretical framework, assesses user acceptance of information systems, with perceived usefulness and ease of use as key components. Perceived usefulness refers to a user's belief that a technology will improve their performance, while perceived ease of use measures the expectation that a technology will be easy to use. These factors have a significant impact on the adoption of information technology and in turn influence users' attitudes, intentions, and behavior. This study adapted usefulness and ease of use to measure the perceived benefits and usability of secondhand platforms. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the factors that underpin Chinese consumers' satisfaction with secondhand trading platforms. The findings of this research can guide platform providers in improving the user experience, addressing perceived risks, and promoting green consumption. Future research can further explore cross-country comparisons and the consequences of user dissatisfaction on platform behavior.

Most of the literature on Philippine foreign policy indicate that its centrality lies in the presidency. Most of it focuses on each presidential terms and their way of navigating international affairs. This may be because it has been suggested that the Philippine president is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policies and is responsible for primarily taking the lead on charting the decisions to be made. This notion coincides with the idea that foreign policy decision making tends to be elitist in nature. However, this paper argues that several actors within society influence the decision-making process to an extent. Arguing that the state is not a monolithic entity, this paper will be using the state transformation approach, to examine some instances of fragmentation, decentralization, and internationalization that have shaped the decision-making process, balancing the previously thought notion of the president’s centrality, particularly in Manila’s foreign policies toward China, from 2016 to 2020.

When there is anarchy in the international political system, uncertainty and fear can seep into the relations between states, leading to a spiral of power, competition, and even war. This anxiety forces some states to modernize their military forces and increases security risks for other states. In addition to international competition, regional power dynamics force states to modernize their militaries to maintain regional balances of power and state security. One of the most precarious regions in the world in this respect is South Asia, where three nuclear powers, China, India, and Pakistan, reside border to border. Chinese economic and military power is a source of strategic convergence for India, the USA’s most significant deliberate partner. Strategic competition between excessive regional powers creates a strategic dilemma for small states in South Asia, such as Pakistan. The geographical contiguity between India and Pakistan makes the region a nuclear flashpoint. To ensure the state’s survival, above and beyond nuclear weapons, Pakistan cannot contest India’s conventional military superiority. The hypothesis of this study is that Pakistan can assure its security by maintaining credible nuclear deterrence instead of trusting in diplomacy or traditional military power alone. This study explores how minimal credible deterrence has historically played a role in ensuring security and strategic stability in bilateral relations between South Asia’s nuclear powers. Keen and close observation of further Indian military modernization and doctrinal transformation is essential if Pakistan is to establish a comprehensive strategy for national security.