KOREASCHOLAR

A total of 321 salaried employees were surveyed by a questionnaire to assess consumers perceptions on factors influencing their food choices when they go to a restaurant. The questionnaire consisted of 5 pages and each page contained a same 26 popular food list from various restaurants in JinJu in a column and 5 attributes (e.g. taste, price, fullness, healthiness) in a row. So the respondents were asked to rate a total 25 attributes on the points which the columns and the rows met, using a 5-point scale. The data were analyzed using the SAS program for factor analysis. Five factors which influence consumer's restaurant choice were emerged. They were named as follow: Factor 1:preference and purpose, Factor 2:taste, Factor 3:snack, Factor 4:convenience, Factor 5:concern about obesity. Most of respondents were satisfied with the taste and the healthiness of foods of restaurants in Jin-Ju. The younger and the female groups had more positive attitudes on eating out andi willing to use it frequently. Fullnes, healthiness, and price were important criteria in choice and preference of a restaurant. However, they didn't much consider the food safety. Taking account of the character of Korean food about fullness, healthiness, and resonable price, consumers might prefer Korean food to fast food or foreign food.

• 김석영 | Kim, Seok-Young