Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

It's only fitting that this announcement is our 1000th Bridging Culture Worldwide Blog posting. August 30, 2010 04:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time  DENVER--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Smashburger ® , a fast-casual “better burger” restaurant concept, has partnered with Bridging Culture Worldwide, a professional consulting, strategic planning and cross-cultural management service, to lead its expansion into South Korea. With Bridging Culture Worldwide’s assistance, Smashburger looks to sign its first South Korean multi unit franchise development agreement in 2011. “We look forward to working with Don Southerton and Bridging Culture Worldwide to connect with multi-unit developers and operators for our expansion into South Korea.” Smashburger’s entry into the South Korean market marks the beginning of a larger international expansion plan that includes other fast-growing economies like the Middle East, Canada, and other Asian countries. Smashburger’s product and concept has proved ve...

For Immediate Release Source: Korea Times Korea Business Central Website By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Trying to find information about doing business in Korea just became a bit easier, thanks to the Korea Business Central website. The website ( www.koreabusinesscentral.com ) is a source of information about how one can do business in Korea and build a network of contacts. Steven S. Bammel founded the website in September 2009, with a long-time colleague Don Southerton , with the goal of creating a community for non-Koreans who are doing business in Korea and Koreans doing business with non-Koreans. ``This is a place where they can get information about how to be successful in Korean business. Being successful means understanding the Korean mindset in business,’’ he said in an interview with The Korea Times in downtown Seoul. The website offers interviews, podcast discussions and reports on the ins and outs of doing business in Korea. Several prominent business experts and figures have been...

Several weeks ago, I was in a discussion with a senior executive for a major Korea-based global company on the recent recognition South Korea has gained as the Asia-Pacific Design hub. I was asked to provide the names of some leaders in Korean design. One name immediately came to mind--Andre  Kim.  A creative force, he will be missed... Andre Kim at Gala Opening of Songdo Convensia, 2008 Andre Kim eulogized for pioneering spirit People bade their last farewells to longtime fashion icon, Andre Kim, who was laid to rest Sunday, three days after he died at the age of 74. His death is no doubt a great loss not only to the fashion industry but also to the entire nation. Although he has passed away, he will remain in the hearts of Koreans forever.   Needless to say, Kim was a great pioneer in fashion design. He became the country’s first male designer in 1962 when the profession was still considered a female realm. He held his first fashion show that year bef...

The life and death of Korea's Queen Min (Myeongseong) has long been a popular topic. I've written about the Queen and her impact on early US-Korean business relations in a number of my book. She was strong advocate of building ties with the U.S. More recently, in  Korea Legal , I shared news on a lawsuit filed against the Japanese government over the Queen's murder. That said, an article in Korea Times ties the Queen's life with Korean saju . Saju  can be translated as Four Pillars of Destiny. Although its origins are Chinese, Koreans have adopted and refined the concepts that describe four components impacting a person's destiny or fate. The four components center on the moment of birth-- the year, month, day, and time (hour). The life of Empress Myeongseong The Empress Myeongseong By Janet Shin The story of the Empress Myeongseong, wife of King Gojong, is one of the most tragic events in Korean history. Unfortunately, it has been interspers...

Don Southerton CEO Bridging Culture Worldwide 안녕하세요.   Bridging Culture Worldwide 입니다. Bridging Culture Worldwide는 귀사의 글로벌 인재양성 및 글로벌 현지화 전략에 알맞는 Cross Cultural Training Program을 제공합니다. 국가간 비지니스 규범과 표준, 한국의 비지니스 문화 공유 그리고 귀사의 해외팀에게 일어날수 있는 일에 대한 대처방안 능력을 길러 줍니다.   따라서 외국계 고용인 및 고용주, 국내외 본사의 해외팀 또는 주재원에게 꼭 필요한 Program 입니다. 이미 국내 글로벌 대기업 현대 / 기아 자동차, 현대모비스, 효성 그리고 해외 기업들이 Bridging Culture Worldwide의 Cross Cultural Training과 함께   글로벌 현지화 전략을 진행하고 있습니다. 또한 탁월한 성과도 거두고 있습니다. Bridging Culture Worldwide와 함께 하는 순간 이미 귀사는 해외 경쟁력을 갖추게 됩니다. 다양한 서비스 정보를 원하시면 아래의 연락처로 연락바랍니다. 신속하게 답변드리겠습니다 Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com +1-310-866-3777