Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides insights into and recommendations for how foreign companies and individuals can succeed in Korea. It presents a wide range of relevant topics, including the Korean business environment, market entry into Korea, and management issues in Korea. The book also provides an overview of the economic, political, and cultural environments that shape the way of doing business in Korea. It discusses typical management issues that foreign companies and managers face in Korea, including marketing, human resource management, and expatriate management. The book introduces the Korean political environment. It focuses on two events that shaped the political and social landscape in Korea: the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the political crisis in 2016, which resulted in the impeachment of the Korean president. The book explains the unique features of the Korean culture relevant to doing business in Korea.