Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

By Don Southerton, BCW Editor Kia Motors America has long supported their American teams. (see Case Study) In fact, they provide a wide range of training and coaching to their teams--from including Korean culture awareness in New Employee Orientation to 6 week Korea 101 and Korea 201 training programs. Kia Motors Company's Korea HQ also hosts a number of programs in Korea. Together the KMA team have opportunities to learn about Korea and Korean culture, norms, business practices, and expectations. BCW CEO Don Southerton shares insights into Korean business culture I recently worked with the KMA summer intern program. The group of local California university students learned about Korean business culture, trends, and Kia Motors, which through quality and design is gaining ever increasing market share and popularity.

I find that most leadership recognizes the importance of cross-culturalism, but stop short of actually taking action. Teams and leadership need practical skills and situational coaching--results and better communications will soon follow. Kia Motors America (a division of the Hyundai Kia Motor Group) does a great job providing their teams with Korean cross-cultural support. This includes Korean culture training for new employees and ongoing Korean cross-cultural workshops for the team. Most recently I shared my insights to a group of summer interns working at the KMA headquarters in Irvine, California. I strongly recommend all Korea facing firms follow Kia Motors’ forward thinking and proactive approach to global business. BCW offers a full range of programs to meet your needs. Kia Motors’ Korean Culture Training July 2010

I feel GM Daewoo, once a huge success story, will see its presence in Korea erode. With GM's plan to relocate more Korea model production to the US, GM Daewoo's export numbers will drop even more. Once the Number 3 Korean car maker, in the wake of the global auto meltdown, Hyundai and Kia have gained even more local ( and global) market share. Hyundai and Kia have topped 80% now in Korea. GM Daewoo continues to slide. Reducing their export production only adds to the situation. Chosun Ilbo notes GM to Move Gentra Production to U.S. One more GM Daewoo model made in Korea for export to foreign markets will be produced in the U.S. GM said Monday that the Gentra subcompact (Chevrolet Aveo in the U.S.) will be manufactured at its Orion Township plant in Michigan beginning late this year to be sold in the U.S. from early 2011. The U.S. plant will produce 160,000 Gentras a year. GM decided in November last year to move production of the Lacetti Premier (Chevrolet Cruze) from GM Daewoo...