Things you didn't know were Korean...
So, just the other night, I was able to spend a night at the family of one of my Korean middle school students. It was nice to spend time with a family for a change - spending time with friends is great, but you miss a lot when you do everything in pairs, and not as a "family" so to speak.
But during the discussion that we had after the meal, where the father talked about how proud he is of Korea, and he just started listing off all of the things Korea is known for, IN KOREA. So it got me thinking of all of the things in North America that are Korean, the thing being that people just don't KNOW that they're Korean. So, without further ado, here's just a short list of things that are Korean, only you might not have known. (feel free to comment and add other things to the list)
Samsung -
In Hangul, 삼성. Revenue (electronics) 79.18 Billion USD
Yup, its Korean. Many of you know that they make some of the coolest cell phones on the market. But did you know that they also make cars, apartment buildings, own drafting/construction companies, design subways, and a host of other things? No wonder then that the latest scandal in Korea over their current potential slush-fund issues has Newsweek citing that the current scandal at "The Republic of Samsung" could "reshape Korea" At Samsung, they could say "Yup, we make that" to just about any product question or request.
LG -
Revenue:61 Billion USD
Yup - also Korean. Known primarily for their technology, LG also manufactures a host of home appliances, and other amazing things operating as the parent company of a dearth of different names. LG operates the second largest conglomerate of businesses in Korea, smaller only to the Hyundai Group. The third largest is Samsung.
Hyundai -
in Hangul, 현대 Revenue: (motors) 51.3 Billion USD
Seeing a pattern here? I've commented on this before in my post about the slogans in Korea, but it deserves mentioning again. If 1 million people buy a car, the same car, then its a safe bet that they're doing something right. When that holds true, 10 Million Koreans can't be wrong, can they? Maybe their's something to them. Hyundai however manufactures more than just cars. Similar to Samsung, only on much larger scale, Hyundai seems to have their hands in nearly everything, if you look hard enough.
Kia -
In Hangul, 기아 (a subsidiary of Hyundai, but still big)
What you see as a cheap student car option is also the second most popular car brand in Korea. If people don't own a Hyundai, then the other car of choice is a Kia. Most known for their cheaper but close models of the Hyundai name, Kia's are known for their cheap repairs, and near indestructability; knowing the way Koreans drive, its a good thing. If your car doesn't have a scratch, then it means you just drove it off the lot.
Hynix -
In Hangul, 하이닉스 Revenue: 6.48 Billion USD
Who? you might ask, is Hynix. Well, formerly Hyundai Electronics, were you to open up your computer, pull out the RAM stick, and read the label, I would argue that a lot of you have Hynix RAM in your computers. Hynix is one of the largest makers of RAM in the world; take your pick, if it's memory, they make it. And its cheap too.
Daewoo -
In Hanguel, 대우.
Daewoo, that's who! Remember that ad campaign not too long ago in the US and Canada? Count this experiment one in a long line of failures by GM to implement for success. Daewoo manufactures a large number heavy industries in Korea, and they also manufacture cars, very cheaply. Known for looking really classy on the outside, but running like its on its last legs under the hood, Daewoo's didn't survive in North America for long. However, they're manufactured a lot better here in Korea. They're the Kia's of North America. If you need a cheap "student" car, you buy a Daewoo. Daewoo's similar to Samsung and Hyundai in that its a massive family conglomerate of industries, more known for their cars than anything else.
Posco -
Revenue: 27.18 Billion USD
Who? Only the worlds third largest producer of steel in the world. That's pretty much all they do, for the most part. However, when you make as much steel as they do, it keeps you pretty busy.
SK Group -
Revenue: 75.8 Billion USD
Known primarily in Korea for their telecommunications, SK also operates a large number of oilfields all over the world. Not having any oil in Korea, Korean corporations are not only forced to bring in their oil by tankers, but to finance oil explorations in countries in order to bring their oil here, refined or not. SK also operates the highest quality cell phone network in Korea, and they are the third largest conglomerate in all of Korea.
These are just some of the larger companies in Korea that you might have heard of. If there are any others that you can think of that I have clearly missed, feel free to let me know - I am sure there are many more. If you are interested in finding out more info about Korean companies, here is the FORBES website which lists the Korean companies in lieu of the 2000 largest companies in the world, circa 2006. enjoy
But during the discussion that we had after the meal, where the father talked about how proud he is of Korea, and he just started listing off all of the things Korea is known for, IN KOREA. So it got me thinking of all of the things in North America that are Korean, the thing being that people just don't KNOW that they're Korean. So, without further ado, here's just a short list of things that are Korean, only you might not have known. (feel free to comment and add other things to the list)
Samsung -
In Hangul, 삼성. Revenue (electronics) 79.18 Billion USDYup, its Korean. Many of you know that they make some of the coolest cell phones on the market. But did you know that they also make cars, apartment buildings, own drafting/construction companies, design subways, and a host of other things? No wonder then that the latest scandal in Korea over their current potential slush-fund issues has Newsweek citing that the current scandal at "The Republic of Samsung" could "reshape Korea" At Samsung, they could say "Yup, we make that" to just about any product question or request.
LG -
Revenue:61 Billion USDYup - also Korean. Known primarily for their technology, LG also manufactures a host of home appliances, and other amazing things operating as the parent company of a dearth of different names. LG operates the second largest conglomerate of businesses in Korea, smaller only to the Hyundai Group. The third largest is Samsung.
Hyundai -
in Hangul, 현대 Revenue: (motors) 51.3 Billion USDSeeing a pattern here? I've commented on this before in my post about the slogans in Korea, but it deserves mentioning again. If 1 million people buy a car, the same car, then its a safe bet that they're doing something right. When that holds true, 10 Million Koreans can't be wrong, can they? Maybe their's something to them. Hyundai however manufactures more than just cars. Similar to Samsung, only on much larger scale, Hyundai seems to have their hands in nearly everything, if you look hard enough.
Kia -
In Hangul, 기아 (a subsidiary of Hyundai, but still big) What you see as a cheap student car option is also the second most popular car brand in Korea. If people don't own a Hyundai, then the other car of choice is a Kia. Most known for their cheaper but close models of the Hyundai name, Kia's are known for their cheap repairs, and near indestructability; knowing the way Koreans drive, its a good thing. If your car doesn't have a scratch, then it means you just drove it off the lot.
Hynix -
In Hangul, 하이닉스 Revenue: 6.48 Billion USDWho? you might ask, is Hynix. Well, formerly Hyundai Electronics, were you to open up your computer, pull out the RAM stick, and read the label, I would argue that a lot of you have Hynix RAM in your computers. Hynix is one of the largest makers of RAM in the world; take your pick, if it's memory, they make it. And its cheap too.
Daewoo -
In Hanguel, 대우. Daewoo, that's who! Remember that ad campaign not too long ago in the US and Canada? Count this experiment one in a long line of failures by GM to implement for success. Daewoo manufactures a large number heavy industries in Korea, and they also manufacture cars, very cheaply. Known for looking really classy on the outside, but running like its on its last legs under the hood, Daewoo's didn't survive in North America for long. However, they're manufactured a lot better here in Korea. They're the Kia's of North America. If you need a cheap "student" car, you buy a Daewoo. Daewoo's similar to Samsung and Hyundai in that its a massive family conglomerate of industries, more known for their cars than anything else.
Posco -
Revenue: 27.18 Billion USDWho? Only the worlds third largest producer of steel in the world. That's pretty much all they do, for the most part. However, when you make as much steel as they do, it keeps you pretty busy.
SK Group -
Revenue: 75.8 Billion USDKnown primarily in Korea for their telecommunications, SK also operates a large number of oilfields all over the world. Not having any oil in Korea, Korean corporations are not only forced to bring in their oil by tankers, but to finance oil explorations in countries in order to bring their oil here, refined or not. SK also operates the highest quality cell phone network in Korea, and they are the third largest conglomerate in all of Korea.
These are just some of the larger companies in Korea that you might have heard of. If there are any others that you can think of that I have clearly missed, feel free to let me know - I am sure there are many more. If you are interested in finding out more info about Korean companies, here is the FORBES website which lists the Korean companies in lieu of the 2000 largest companies in the world, circa 2006. enjoy