&Nbsp; Korea'S Footwear Industry From Decline To Revitalization.

The Korean footwear industry began to grow rapidly in the early 70s of last century. It has been an important position in the export industry for a long time. It is one of the most important shoemaking bases in the world. In 1990, it achieved the highest export record of 4 billion 300 million US dollars, but it lost its competitive advantage in a few years, and its exports declined year by year.

In 2002, exports were only 577 million US dollars. In 2003 May, the first trade deficit in Korea's footwear products trade announced the complete end of the Korean footwear industry as the main export industry.

The footwear industry in Korea rose rapidly in 20 years, and it declined rapidly in more than 10 years.

The direct cause of the decline of the Korean footwear industry is that the rapid rise in labor costs has led to the decline or even loss of international competitiveness. The fundamental reason lies in the over reliance on the OEM (OEM) mode of production and export since 70s, resulting in a long-term neglect of the creation of private brands and the cultivation of professional talents, failing to cultivate the brand of their own countries and occupy the international market.

When the famous brand moved the production base to China and Southeast Asia, the Korean shoe industry just came to an awakening, but it was too late.

At present, there are many similarities between China's shoemaking industry and Korean shoe making industry.

First, China's enterprises are still not enough for the development trend of industry, industrial technology, research and development of new materials, capital investment and personnel training. Two, some products are exported according to OEM mode, and there are no direct customers or sales channels in the production enterprises. Three, the labor costs and operating costs in the eastern coastal areas of China are constantly rising, which makes labour intensive industries unbearable.

The labor-intensive industries in the southeast coastal areas of China are likely to lose international competitiveness.

Today, South Korea is actively engaged in high-tech research and development of shoemaking industry, especially sports shoes, and has begun to enter into the era of cutting-edge IT shoes, including modified shoes, functional walking shoes, extreme sports special function shoes and so on.

At the same time, the South Korean footwear industry revitalization center was set up to actively carry out specialization in the field of three-dimensional mechanical performance evaluation and to carry out research and development of sophisticated IT shoes.

In addition to holding sophisticated footwear exhibitions, it also conducts competitive sports competition on sophisticated shoes, and is committed to nurturing cutting-edge footwear designers. Through the technology integration and combination of sophisticated industries and traditional industries, it explores the development space of future industries, and applies the technology of Korean IT parts that are ranked first in the world to the development technology of footwear industry, develops sophisticated shoes with high added value, leads and dominates the global sophisticated footwear market, and promotes the internationalization of shoe brands to the height of national image.

The Korean footwear industry and the government's practice will undoubtedly have a positive reference for China's footwear industry. Although China is already the world's largest shoemaking country, it is not a shoe making power. There are few Chinese brands in the world's shoe brand. Therefore, if China's footwear industry wants to continue its smooth development, it must learn from other countries' experience and make timely adjustments according to the needs of the international market. Take enterprises as the main body, vigorously carry out research and development of science and technology, new materials, and technological innovation, implement the strategy of developing its own international brand, establish its own international marketing channel, take the road of international operation, gradually turn to brand export and capital export, and encourage and protect products with independent intellectual property rights to the international market. Other mountain