The furniture industry in Korea is characterized by its concentration in Gyeonggi metropolitan area around Seoul in terms of the entire distribution. Such weight in Gyeonggi area takes 42.6% of the Korean furniture industry. Regardless of such signifi...
The furniture industry in Korea is characterized by its concentration in Gyeonggi metropolitan area around Seoul in terms of the entire distribution. Such weight in Gyeonggi area takes 42.6% of the Korean furniture industry. Regardless of such significant weight given, it has been neglected from the governmental policy support owing to the lack of understanding on the furniture industry, which is a high value-added industry compared to other industries, and the acknowledgement of this field as a marginal industry. For these reasons, the furniture complexes are formed and maintained depending on local condition and self-generative capacity.
In case of Italy that is one of the advanced country in furniture industry, the furniture complexes in Brianza district has been constantly supported and cultivated centering the industry-oriented metropolis Milano and currently, it attracts the attention of the world population specialized in furniture industry every year by hosting large-scale furniture exhibitions. Such attempts have advanced the position of the Italian furniture industry as well as its design level into the most leading figure.
On the other hand, the furniture industry in Korea has been mainly promoted in Gyeonggi metropolitan area as a traditional industry from long time ago, thus for this reason, its significance and weight have been highly emphasized compared to other cities. Among the furniture complexes in Gyeonggi, the 'Maseok Furniture Complex' and 'Ilsan Furniture Complex' are the representative figures in northern part while the 'Yongin Eojeon Furniture Complex' is considered to be the representative large-scale complex in the southern part of Gyeonggi area.
When taking a look at those complexes, some similarities can be found and in terms of location, they are naturally situated in the outskirt areas where the sites could be purchased with relatively cheaper price away from the center of the traffic or the cities. Also as their scale got increased, they were happened to form a large-scale complex. Considering such natural characteristics, however, it is inconvenient to visit the place using public transportation in terms of the access and the route to be taken to the entire stores in the complex is confusing as well.
Moreover owing to the recent development project promoted in the new towns of the metropolitan areas, the complexes had to be moved or reduced in size. Meanwhile, the increasing amount of the cheap furniture imported from overseas countries like China and Vietnam is challenging the creation of the competitive environment as well as the development of furniture design and product without any governmental support. This is the present situation that Korean furniture industry is facing.
Therefore, it is necessary to model the industrial competitiveness of Italy that is an advanced furniture country for the competitive cultivation and development of the furniture industry in Gyeonggi area. Primarily, the structure of the Italian furniture industry promotes preservation of the technical capacity based on the craftsmanship succeeded from the tradition and realization of the innovative product development by combining modern design with the tradition as a way to satisfy the customers. Also, the prominent furniture designers who are equipped with practical ability are produced through an academic institution specialized in furniture and the joint development with industrial businesses is promoted through industry-university cooperation. Meanwhile, the governmental measures to secure the existence of the furniture complexes away from any urban development project is provided. Considering such systemized orders in the Italian furniture industry, it is necessary to carefully reexamine and learn such strengths to improve the furniture industry in Korea.
Thus in order to produce, sell, and distribute the competitive and high value-added furniture products through the furniture complexes in Gyeonggi me