Press Release: Korean Cars Drive to the Top

#14 (Today's hint is some insights into the Korean car industry. Podcast to follow soon.)

The Korea Society recently hosted a Business Roundtable titled Korean Cars Drive to the Top: A Look at the Korean Car Industry. Speaking to a distinguished audience, Don Southerton, author and Korean global business expert, shared insights into the Korean car industry, Hyundai and Kia Motors, and their amazing drive to the top of the market.

NY, NY September 16, 2009 – The Korea Society recently hosted a Business Roundtable titled Korean Cars Drive to the Top: A Look at the Korean Car Industry. Speaking to a distinguished audience, Don Southerton, author and Korean global business expert, shared insights into the Korean car industry, Hyundai and Kia Motors, and their amazing drive to the top of the market.

Southerton’s remarks centered on 3 main themes: Korean up-market consumerism; the high level of integration within Korea’s leading automaker –the Hyundai Kia Motor Group; and insights into Hyundai and Kia’s recent US successes in public perception and market share. Key facets of this change include the improved quality, stylish design, and great reliability of the Korean cars.

Of interest to the group were Hyundai Kia’s huge capital investments, including a state of the art integrated steel manufacturing facility currently under construction in South Korea. Questions from the attendees included Korea’s Green technology initiative and factors which have led to bold successes in Hyundai and Kia recent domestic, global, and US sales.


Don Southerton, president and CEO of Bridging Culture Worldwide, is an adviser, consultant, and trainer for many of the top Korean-based corporations with business operations in America, as well as major Western firms that have ventures in Korea. Southerton writes and comments extensively on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His latest work is Chemulpo to Songdo IBD: Korea's International Gateway.

THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. In pursuit of its mission, the Society arranges programs that facilitate discussion, exchanges and research on topics of vital interest to both countries in the areas of public policy, business, education, intercultural relations and the arts. Funding for these programs is derived from contributions, endowments, grants, membership dues and program fees. From its base in New York City, the Society serves audiences across the country through its own outreach efforts and by forging strategic alliances with counterpart organizations in other cities throughout the United States as well as in Korea.

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