As an executive search professional, and coach to company leaders, I work with many fine leaders from various countries within a variety of businesses in Korea. I often witness firsthand what works and what doesn’t in Korea. Life for me is not boring ― it’s a roller coaster.How can we smooth out the ride of our careers in Korea? Why do books not always deliver? Well, because life is not so cut and dried that it can be captured easily between two hard covers. In looking for a career, don’t assume

Swiss brand growing while other imported cosmetics struggle

While Koreans’ rising presence on the global stage is hard to ignore, how to do business with them as a non-Korean is an increasingly tricky area little covered in English-language literature. Don Southerton explores the niche with his recently published book “Korea Facing: Secrets for Success in Korean Global Business,” which picks apart how to work with a Korean conglomerate from the ground up, for non-Koreans working in Korean branches overseas.“Over the years I witnessed firsthand cross-cult

Samsung Electronics Co. vice chairman Lee Jay-yong and Kumho Asiana Group chairman Park Sam-koo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia on Monday. They were two Koreans who participated in a breakfast meeting hosted by the Chinese president for 19 foreign business leaders. At the meeting, Xi appreciated investments made by foreign-based companies and promised to ease regulations for their business in the Chinese market. On Sunday, Lee, the only son of Samsung Ele

GroupM, a global media agency, has appointed its COO Cho Seon-koog to head its Korean unit, company officials said Monday.The company is a leading global media investment and management operating firm. Cho joined GroupM last summer as COO and has worked on developing and growing Korean operations of four agencies within GroupM ― Maxus, MEC, Mediacom and Mindshare. “As a leading international media agency in Korea, GroupM has the ambition and commitment to derive further growth and expansion for

Koreans were found to be the most eager in the world to replace their mobile phones, according to data on Sunday.More than two thirds, or 67.8 percent, of Koreans bought new products last year, U.S.-based market researcher Strategy Analytics said. Chile came second with 55.5 percent, followed by the United States with 55.2 percent and Uruguay with 53.6 percent, while Bangladesh ranked at the bottom with 8.4 percent.Strategy Analytics forecast that the replacement figures complied for Korea will

The global economic slump appears to be taking a toll on local internet shoppers, with online sales posting a record-low monthly growth since the government first started to compile the data, Statistics Korea said.Internet shopping sales declined by 2 percent in February from the same period last year to record the lowest monthly growth figure since 2009, the agency said. In January that year, monthly internet sales fell 1.8 percent. For the year, sales increased by 15.1 percent from 2008, addin

All eyes are on the new business roadmap anticipated to be drawn up by Samsung Electronics’ chairman Lee Kun-hee upon his return to the country following a three-month leave that began in January.The chief of the country’s top conglomerate is known for embarking on such self-imposed pilgrimages ahead of making big decisions for coping with challenges facing the company. This time, the challenge will consist of how to tackle the sluggish global economy and further ramp up flagship Samsung Electro