An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Intention to Acquire and Maintain International Certifications among Korean Seafood Export Companies

This study empirically analyzes the factors influencing the intention of Korean seafood exporting companies to acquire and maintain international certifications. As global food markets increasingly emphasize sustainability and social responsibility in addition to food safety and quality, international certifications have become essential requirements for overseas market entry and the maintenance of stable trading relationships. However, the acquisition and maintenance of such certifications involve substantial organizational efforts, resulting in heterogeneous firm responses. To identify the determinants of certification intentions, this study classifies relevant variables into environmental, input, organizational, capability, and relational dimensions. Survey data from 134 Korean seafood exporting companies were analyzed using factor analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis to examine the relative influence of each factor. The results indicate that market requirement factors reflecting global market demands exert the strongest positive effect on certification intentions. Among internal factors, top management’s commitment and network capabilities with certification-related institutions were found to be significant, whereas input-related factors such as certification costs and time were not statistically significant. These findings suggest that certification intentions among seafood exporters are shaped less by resource inputs than by strategic managerial decision-making and the ability to leverage external networks in response to global market demands. This study offers practical implications for corporate strategies and policy measures aimed at enhancing international certification readiness among Korean seafood export companies.