Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

  It's finally here.  The 2nd Edition of Korea 2020: A workplace in transition COVID-19 and other recent trends.    https://www.dropbox.com/s/55x27sn4y7bhank/Korea%202020%20MSS%20%202nd%20%20Edition.pdf?dl=0     I've updated the book to include the very latest insights into Korea facing business.   Required reading for anyone who works for or with a Korean brand.    Not to mention if you look to do business with a Korean global company..    Questions, comments, and inquiries always welcome.   Don ###

  It takes an Insider Don Southerton Working from South Korea over the past two weeks, we saw not only tightened COVID 2.5 level restrictions to curtail the spike in virus cases, plus two typhoons. Still despite the rain, companies advised employees to limit contact with anyone outside work, and others were asked to work from home, projects moved forward.    One take away from the trip was a conversation with a longtime colleague. They stressed a past hard lesson learned when they began operations in the US. It’s also key to any business entry whether in Korea or America—"it takes an insider.”    For my Korean colleague, he noted that selecting a local representative was a huge challenge. In fact, his Korean firm saw little progress even after they picked a local partner—someone on paper who, when interviewed, was seemingly well connected—skilled, but not a true insider in that business sector.    A few days later in a private lunch with the management...