Popular Korean Brands

Popular Korean Brands

HYUNDAI

The Hyundai Motor Company is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer. Hyundai vehicles are sold in 193 countries. The Company was first founded as Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company in 1947 and later Hyundai Motor Company was established in 1967.

Hyundai released its first model Cortina in 1968 in collaboration with Ford Motor Company. Later Hyundai decided to make its own car. In 1975, Hyundai released South Korea’s first car, the Pony.

 In Korean language HYUNDAI means modernity (Being new and modern)

 

SAMSUNG

The Samsung Group is a South Korean Multinational Conglomerate (a large firm made up of several subsidiary companies). Currently Samsung owns 252 subsidiary companies all over the world. Initially, Samsung was founded as a Trading company in a city called Daegu in 1938. Samsung began as a grocery store, trading and exporting goods. It sold fish, vegetables and its own noodles.  The company grew and expanded into many different areas like Sugar Refinery, Textile, Construction, Insurance, Securities and retail businesses.

 

Samsung entered Electronics in 1969.  It formed several electronics related divisions. It didn’t stop there it further expanded into many industries like, Shipbuilding, Petro Chemical, Medical Services, Air craft engine, Samsung Printing Solution, Samsung Motors, Samsung Semiconductor

First Phone produced by SAMSUNG

The company made many acquisitions over the year across the world that would help to expand its offerings in medical technology, home automation, payment solutions, cloud solutions, smart TVs, OLED display and virtual reality devices. Samsung also testing its own self- driving car.

SAMSUNG means Three Stars or Tri-Star. With “three”  representing “big, powerful” and “star “ representing “everlasting”.

 

 

LG

LG Corporation is a South Korean multinational conglomerate headquartered at Seoul, South Korea. In 1947, LG Corporation was established as (Lak Hui) Lucky Chemical Industrial Corp and then expanded into plastic business. At the same time LG sold Consumer electronics under the company named Goldstar. Later, in 1983 both companies Lucky and Goldstar merged and formed Lucky-Goldstar (LG). 

LG operates subsidiaries such as

• LG Electronics
• LG Display
• LG Solar Energy
• LG Chemicals
• LG Household & Healthcare
• LG Uplus

South Korea's First Radio

LG (Goldstar) produced South Korea’s first Radio

 

Lotte

Lotte Corporation is South Korea, Japanese multinational conglomerate. Lotte was founded by a Korean businessman in 1948 at Tokyo, Japan then in 1967 Lotte Confectionary (a company that sells sweets, chocolates and cakes) was established in South Korea.

Lotte Corporation is engaged in varies industries. Some of them are

• Food Products
• Shopping Malls
• Amusement Park
• Industrial Chemical
• Construction
• Transport Service
• Entertainment
• Machinery
• Transport Service

The Name “Lotte” is neither Korean nor Japanese, but German. It is derived from a German novel’s character “Charlotte”

KIA Motors

KIA Motors is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1944 as Kyungsung Precision Industry, a manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycle parts, eventually producing Korea’s first bicycle. In 1951 it changed its name as KIA Industries and started to manufacture motorcycles, cars and trucks.

 

In 1997, during Asian financial crisis, KIA declared bankruptcy and in 1998 reached an agreement with Hyundai Motors to exchange ownership between the two companies. Hyundai remains KIA’s largest stakeholder and KIA motor retains ownership in some Hyundai Motor’s subsidiaries.

 KIA means Ki – to arise, a for Asia translated as “Rising from Asia”

 

FILA

FILA is sportswear manufacturing brand founded in 1911 in Italy. It primarily made underwear for Italians. Later it moved into sportswear and became popular. In 2003, Cerberus Capital Management Company acquired FILA business around the world except FILA Korea, which was a separate company operating the brand under license. But in 2007 FILA Korea acquired the brand and all its international subsidiaries. Now FILA has its headquarters at Seoul, South Korea.

The name “FILA” originates from Greek meaning “Loving”

 

The Face Shop

The Face Shop is a South Korean Skincare and Cosmetics Manufacturer, Retailer and Franchise business. Launched in 1947 with one store in Seoul (Myeondong). It opened its 100^th store in 2006 becoming Korea’s second largest cosmetics company and in 2007 it opened its first store in USA. The company’s marketing is largely based on natural products.

 

In 2009, The Face Shop was bought by LG Household & Healthcare. It is now a subsidiary of LG Corporation which has its headquarters in the LG Gwanghwamun Building, Seoul. Right now it has 930 stores in 24 Countries.

A Big Business starts Small