Publications

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April 2007 (Revised June 2008)
Background Note

AmorePacific

By: Elie Ofek and Kerry Herman

Describes the dominant firm in the Korean cosmetics market up to the mid-2000s. Gives background on AmorePacific's historical evolution, its current brands, and the competition it faces from local and international players. Also provides information on the market... View Details

Keywords: History; Competition; Distribution Channels; Brands and Branding; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; South Korea

January 2005 (Revised December 2005)
Case

KAMCO and the Cross-Border Securitization of Korean Non-Performing Loans

Covers the first international nonperforming loan securitization done in Korea. The CEO of KAMCO is trying to dispose of a portfolio of nonperforming commercial loans that the organization acquired from a number of banks. A group of investment bankers have proposed... View Details

Keywords: Debt Securities; Decision Choices and Conditions; Capital Markets; Financing and Loans; Cross-Cultural and Cross-Border Issues; Financial Services Industry; South Korea

01 Sep 2015
News

Ink

Korea is one of the best-imagined pieces of literature on life under authoritarianism I have encountered. The protagonist, Jun Do (think ‘John Doe’), goes from obscure orphan to absurd hero, all the while exposing the fragility of the... View Details

27 Jul 2009
Research & Ideas

Social Network Marketing: What Works?

social networking site in South Korea with almost 21 million members. Cyworld users buy virtual items to decorate their home pages. Our research shows that some users are influenced by the purchases of their... View Details

Keywords: by Sarah Jane Gilbert; Advertising; Publishing; Retail

October 1997 (Revised March 1998)
Case

Daewoo's Globalization: Uz-Daewoo Auto Project

By: John A. Quelch

The top management at Daewoo is reviewing its close relationship with the Uzbekistan government, focusing especially on the performance of Uz-Daewoo Auto, a strategic alliance to manufacture and market passenger cars. View Details

Keywords: Globalized Economies and Regions; Alliances; Developing Countries and Economies; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; Uzbekistan; South Korea

08 Apr 2011
Research & Ideas

Will the Japan Disaster Remake the Landscape for Green Energy in Asia?

in the clean energy field in Asia in general, and in China specifically-by 2020 China, India, Japan, and South Korea are expected to account for 40 percent of global clean power project investments. The... View Details

Keywords: by Dennis Fisher; Energy; Utilities

17 Apr 2007
First Look

First Look: April 17, 2007

Challenges Authors:Michael I. Norton, Samuel R. Sommers, and Sara Brauner Periodical:Journal of Behavioral Decision Making (in press) Contingent Political Capital and International Alliances: Evidence from South View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

June 2025
Case

TagHive: Edtech Pricing and Distributor Decisions

By: Isamar Troncoso, Frank V. Cespedes and Stacy Straaberg

Education technology (edtech) company TagHive, founded in 2017, used a direct sales team and third-party distributors to sell its Class Saathi hardware and software solution to 300 clients, mainly primary and secondary schools in India. The product aimed to improve... View Details

Student-Profile

Do Yoon Kim

I was born in Seoul, South Korea and spent most of my life there. For my undergraduate degree, I went to Northwestern and majored in Math, Economics, and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS).... View Details

19 Jul 2006
Research & Ideas

Political Turmoil and Mexico’s Economy

United States and Mexico have shrunk dramatically, its system is still somewhat foreign to a private businessman from the United States or Western Europe," adds Maurer. "The culture of a country like South View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna

October 2008 (Revised February 2009)
Case

Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering

Explores the journey of aggressive learning and capability building in the operations of a major Korean Shipbuilder. While DSHM had once used its superior learning capability to topple its Japanese competition, it now faced the potential for a similar attack from new... View Details

Keywords: Job Cuts and Outsourcing; Ship Transportation; Competitive Strategy; Globalization; Manufacturing Industry; Japan; China; South Korea

August 1994 (Revised July 1995)
Case

Astra Sports, Inc. (A)

By: John A. Quelch

Astra executives meet to discuss how to counteract the appearance of Korean-made counterfeit athletic shoes in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. View Details

Keywords: Brands and Branding; Strategy; Crime and Corruption; Manufacturing Industry; Apparel and Accessories Industry; Sports Industry; North Korea; Latin America; South Korea; Asia; Europe

January 2006 (Revised August 2008)
Case

Vivaldi Food Concepts--The Start-up of an Asian Venture (A)

Joel Silverstein needs to raise an additional $1.5 million from private investors to round out the equity financing for his new Quick Service Restaurant venture in China, Korea, and Japan. How should he pitch the opportunity? What should be the terms? View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Private Equity; Business Startups; Retail Industry; Food and Beverage Industry; Japan; China; South Korea

Find at Harvard

28 Apr 2020
Blog Post

A Crash Course in Saving a Family Business

“It’s been a challenge that I am enjoying and learning so much from every day.” Han explains that her parents, Rachel and Richard Han, were early franchisees of Wendy’s in South Korea in the 1990s and... View Details

Winter 2017
Article

Google, Mobile and Competition: The Current State of Play

By: Benjamin Edelman

I present Google practices that have raised objections from competition regulators. I consider the key impediments to competition and examine the business models foreclosed by Google's restrictions. View Details

Keywords: Antitrust; Mobile; Mobile Technology; Search Technology; Technology Platform; Contracts; Lawfulness; Competition; Information Technology Industry; European Union; Russia; South Korea

Read Now

01 Sep 2017
News

The Biggest Industry You’ve Never Heard Of

the subculture of competitive gaming and its economic potential came fully into view—first in South Korea. The country’s well-developed internet infrastructure had birthed a vibrant gaming community, and with support from the government... View Details

Keywords: April White; illustration by Brian Stauffer; esports; Twitch; Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries; Arts, Entertainment

March 1986 (Revised August 1986)
Case

Samsung International, Inc.

A major Korean firm has begun production of televisions in the United States. Output and quality are below Korean standards. Students must determine why and suggest ways to improve. View Details

Keywords: Quality; Production; Performance Productivity; Manufacturing Industry; United States; South Korea

02 Sep 2013
Research & Ideas

The Curse of Double-Digit Growth

and Singapore grew in double digits at the beginning of their economic ascent but slowed, while Chile, Ireland, and South Korea didn't appear on the double-digit chart at all.) In the report Werker... View Details

Keywords: by Kim Girard

February 1988
Teaching Note

Daewoo Group, Teaching Note

By: Francis Aguilar

Teaching Note for (9-385-014). View Details

Keywords: South Korea; United States