Digital Entrepreneurial Intention In Busan: A Study Of International Students

Authors

  • Torjoy Golam Morshad Tongmyong University
  • Lama Tenzen Angmu Tongmyong University
  • Jack Charles Turvin Jr Tongmyong University
  • Uturestantix Tongmyong University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24905/icobis.v2i1.2

Keywords:

Acculturation, digital entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial ecosystems, institutional clarity, international students

Abstract

International students can connect host-country digital resources with cross-border market knowledge, but their entrepreneurial intentions may be weakened by unclear regulation, unequal access to local networks, and sociocultural distance. This study develops and tests an integrated model linking institutional clarity, perceived regional entrepreneurial ecosystem support, and sociocultural adaptation to digital entrepreneurial intention among international students in Busan, Republic of Korea. Using 425 respondent profiles, the study evaluates institutional, ecosystem, and cultural drivers of intention. The measurement model demonstrates strong internal consistency, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and satisfactory overall fit. All contextual drivers are positively associated with entrepreneurial intention, with ecosystem support emerging as the strongest predictor. Academic disciplines differ in average perceptions and intentions, particularly between technical or business-oriented students and humanities-oriented students, although structural relationships remain broadly comparable across groups. The findings support a place-sensitive view of digital entrepreneurship in which technological opportunity depends on intelligible institutions, inclusive ecosystem access, and confidence in navigating local social practices. Because the evidence is synthetic, the reported patterns require confirmation through ethically collected field data.

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Published

2026-09-24

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