Earticle

The purpose of this study is to understand the problem of Labeling System and to present its reform measure through overall arrangement of the dissertation studied so far in regard to Genetically Modified Organic and through research and analysis regarding Genetically Modified Organic Labeling in real market. The preceeding studies have been carried out regarding recognition of Genetically Modified Organic perceived risk and request for labelling subject for consumer. The fact is indicative system has been hardly operated in real market. To reform these problems, first, the government should pursue the unification and synthetic management of food safety management system to manage systematically food safety management regarding Genetically Modified Organic concerning security and health of a people. Second, companies should indicate right mark for consumer to buy the best ideal product, reflecting the fact that the weight of Genetically Modified Organic is increasing in real market. They should recognize that it’s the solution able to enhance their competitive power to offer consumer effective information. Third, consumer should demand their right to realize consumer sovereignty with consumer groups as well. And they need to do active seek and their effort for information and raise consumer safety perception to maximize effective acquired information.

This paper focuses on the problem of ‘consumer alienation,’ which forms and impedes the welfare of consumers in modern consumption society. In order to reconceptualize the consumer alienation, the paper delves into the existing discussions by philosophers including Hegel, Marx, Lukacs, Fromm, and the Frankfurt School, and positivists such as Seeman, Dean, and others. By rediscovering existing discussions of alienation, the paper defines consumer alienation as “the heteronomic phenomenon that instrumentalize consumers to function as means to fulfill the capitalisim, which results in the impedement of consumers’ autonomic decision-making.” The authors expect that the study contribute to the conceptualization of various problems evolved from modern consumer society by employing the concept of consumer alienation.

This study takes an effort to deal with consumers’ insecurities and their solutions at the digital information age. Specifically, the study provides consumers’ perceived risk of information privacy invasion and their personal privacy protection efforts. Then, consumer segmentation was done by perceived risk of privacy invasion and personal privacy protection efforts through Cluster analysis. Then, the affecting factors on the types of consumer were examined using Multinomial Logit Model. The consumer survey was conducted and total of 1,016 respondents were included for statistical analysis using SPSS 12.0 program and LIMDEP 8.0 program. The results yielded the high levels of perceived risk of information privacy invasion and personal privacy protection efforts but privacy protection level was relatively low. The consumer segmentation by the cluster analysis resulted in four types of consumer, low risk and low protection, low risk and high protection, high risk and low protection and high risk and high protection. The suggestions for consumer education were provided considering the different types of consumer.

In an attempt to analyze the problematic behaviors in the consumers’ formal complaining behaviors and to find some ways to reduce them, this study identified the types and characteristics of problematic behaviors, examined the employees’ counseling stress and reactions regarding them. A total of ten staffs in charge of consumer counseling at the Consumer Protection Board, consumer organizations, private corporations, and consumer advocacy centers of the local governments were interviewed. The research findings were as follows: First, the consumers’ problematic behaviors were categorized in four types, which were unreasonable claims, rude words and behaviors, lies, and claims for an excessive financial compensation. Second, the consumers’ problematic behaviors are reflected their high levels of expectation, usually happens unexpectedly and are hard to grasp in a short time. Those characteristics of the consumers’ problematic behaviors worked to increase the counseling staff's stress level. Third, the systematic reactions to the consumers’ problematic behaviors were poor on the part of the counseling organizations. Based on the findings, some strategies were suggested to reduce the consumers’ problematic behaviors in their formal complaining behaviors.

As a result of the increase in internet users and five working days, the traveler population is also rising. Especially, Internet purchase of travel goods is rapidly increasing. The purpose of this research is to determine the life-style and product satisfaction of consumers who purchase internet travel goods. The results were as follows: 1.The life-style is divided into five different classifications: trend-pursuit type, health- pursuit type, leisure-pursuit type, ego-pursuit type and achievement-pursuit type. 2.A cluster analysis according to the different life-styles showed that the consumer groups can be divided into five types: negative group, popularity following group, fashion lead group, leisure/health pursuit group and own accomplishing pursuit group. 3.The consumer satisfaction of Internet travel goods depends on four factors: utility, speediness, clarity, and economy/effectiveness. The actual consumers reported satisfaction of their product choice.

As the emphasis on the corporate citizenship increases more attention is being drawn to the corporate social responsibilities and their role in serving the society. This paper looks at the roles and responsibilities of corporates in promoting consumer education. In order to realize consumer sovereignty in the market place, developing and disseminating effective consumer education contents and consumer eduacation programs is important, and as a citizen of the society, corporate can play important role in the due process as a partner with consumer, consumer groups and government. Various cases that illustrates the roles the corporate can play as a partner of consumer education are provided and their implications are discussed.