Innovation and Exports of Korean Firms: How Do They Differ by Size and Industry?

Shin, W., Oh, S., & Rho, S. (2019). Innovation and Exports of Korean Firms: How Do They Differ by Size and Industry? Millennial Asia, 10(3), 249–271. DOI/10.1177/0976399619879875

27 Pages Posted: 6 Jan 2020

See all articles by Wonkyu Shin

Wonkyu Shin

Institute of Economics and Business, Ilias State University (ISU); Center for International Development Cooperation, Kyung Hee University

Sehwan Oh

Kyungpook National University

Sungho Rho

Sejong University

Date Written: December 10, 2019

Abstract

This article examines some of the distinctive characteristics of South Korean firms in relation to their research and development (R&D) and export activities affecting the efforts to retain intellectual property rights (IPR). In particular, this study shows how firms of different sizes (small and medium enterprises: SMEs vs. large-scale enterprises: LEs) tend to hold the ownership of IPR differently. To test the heterogeneous effects of the firms’ innovative capacity, this study utilizes the firm level data of 6,138 Korean firms during 2006–2014. In the years 2006–2014, South Korea concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) with numerous economies and accelerated its market competition and integration into the global economy. Our empirical results found that R&D activities of both SMEs and LEs were active during the period; however, SMEs in particular took a great stride in their patenting and innovation activities. Findings of our article also show that the more companies engaged in export activities, the more actively patents grew. Furthermore, the companies in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry are more aggressive in patenting activities.

Keywords: South Korean firm, IPRs, SMEs, export, patenting, KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office)

JEL Classification: F14, O34, L25, L63

Suggested Citation

Shin, Wonkyu and Oh, Sehwan and Rho, Sungho, Innovation and Exports of Korean Firms: How Do They Differ by Size and Industry? (December 10, 2019). Shin, W., Oh, S., & Rho, S. (2019). Innovation and Exports of Korean Firms: How Do They Differ by Size and Industry? Millennial Asia, 10(3), 249–271. DOI/10.1177/0976399619879875, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3501605

Wonkyu Shin (Contact Author)

Institute of Economics and Business, Ilias State University (ISU) ( email )

Kakutsa Cholokashvili Ave 3/5
Tbilisi, 0162
Georgia

HOME PAGE: http://beri.iliauni.edu.ge/researchers/

Center for International Development Cooperation, Kyung Hee University ( email )

Dongdaemun-ku
Seoul, Gyeonggi-Do 446-701
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
82-2-961-9193 (Phone)
82-2967-6931 (Fax)

Sehwan Oh

Kyungpook National University

Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

Sungho Rho

Sejong University ( email )

143-743 Seoul
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

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