COMPANYHISTORIES

South Korea

Companies based in South Korea, and the events that shaped them.

16companies1898–2002founding years15still active1no longer operating
§ 01

South Korea companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedKorea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco)
1898
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyFord's Model T puts the automobile within reach of the middle class.
1913
TechnologyFord's moving assembly line transforms factory production.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1916
EconomyPiggly Wiggly opens the first self-service grocery store.
1925
EconomyThe Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting from Nashville.
1927
TechnologyThe Jazz Singer ushers in the era of sound films.
TechnologyLindbergh flies the Atlantic solo, and aviation captures the public.
1928
TechnologyPenicillin is discovered, opening the age of antibiotics.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1933
EconomyThe first drive-in movie theater opens in New Jersey.
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
FoundedSsangyong Cement Industrial Co., Ltd.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedKia Motors Corporation
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1946
TechnologyENIAC, the first general-purpose electronic computer, is unveiled.
FoundedHyundai Group
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCJ CorporationFoundedHanwha Group
1953
1955
EconomyMcDonald's franchising begins, remaking fast food.
EconomyDisneyland opens and invents the modern theme park.
1956
TechnologyThe first transatlantic telephone cable opens.
FoundedTong Yang Cement Corporation
1957
FoundedGoldstar Co., Ltd.FoundedSamick Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedKookmin BankFoundedKorean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
EconomyThe first Walmart opens, built on everyday low prices.
FoundedDaewoo Group
1967
FoundedPOHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY LTD.
1968
FoundedSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
1969
TechnologyARPANET, the internet's precursor, goes live.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHanjin Shipping Co., Ltd.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
TechnologyThe first US in-vitro fertilization baby is born.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
1999
TechnologyNapster ignites the digital disruption of recorded music.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
FoundedKT&G Corporation
2002
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) →
Active · founded 1898 · South Korea
State-owned Korea Electric Power Corporation, also known as Kepco, is in the process of dismantling its more than…
Ssangyong Cement Industrial Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1939 · South Korea
A member of the Ssangyong conglomerate, Ssangyong Cement Industrial Co., Ltd.
Kia Motors Corporation →
Active · founded 1944 · South Korea
Until its merger with Hyundai in 1998, Kia Motors Corporation was the second largest manufacturer of automobiles and…
Hyundai Group →
Active · founded 1947 · South Korea
The Hyundai Group spent most of its history operating as one of South Korea's largest chaebols, or conglomerates.
CJ Corporation →
Active · founded 1953 · South Korea
South Korea's largest food manufacturer, CJ Corporation, is also one of the world's leading producers of such food…
Hanwha Group →
Active · founded 1953 · South Korea
Hanwha Group is one of South Korea's top ten chaebols--or conglomerates--with diversified holdings stretching from…
Tong Yang Cement Corporation →
Active · founded 1957 · South Korea
Tong Yang Cement Corporation is one of South Korea's two leading cement producers and is among the world's largest…
Goldstar Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1958 · Republic of Korea
Goldstar Co., Ltd.
Samick Musical Instruments Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1958 · Korea
Samick Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
Kookmin Bank →
Defunct · founded 1962 · South Korea
Kookmin Bank is not only South Korea's leading commercial bank, it is also a driving force behind the much-needed…
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Korea
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
Daewoo Group →
Active · founded 1967 · Korea
Daewoo Group was founded by Kim Woo Choong in March 1967.
POHANG IRON AND STEEL COMPANY LTD. →
Active · founded 1968 · Republic of Korea
Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO), 70% owned by the government of the Republic of Korea, is an integrated iron and…
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · South Korea
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., is the chief subsidiary of South Korea's giant Samsung Group and one of the largest…
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1977 · South Korea
Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., a Korean global carrier, was established in 1977 by its family-run parent conglomerate, the…
KT&G Corporation →
Active · founded 2002 · South Korea
KT&G Corporation is the new name for the former Korean government-controlled Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation.
Build It Today

How would you build this today?

Each week we rebuild one of these stories with today's tools and capital.