Corporate Korea has turned in a disappointing score card for 2013.
New data compiled by a market researcher shows... that the combined pre-tax profits of 87 affiliates
of the nation's 10 major conglomerates... dropped almost 15 percent to around 50 billion
U.S. dollars last year from 2012.
This can't be good news for the Korean economy.
Let's take a closer look at this issue - our regular contributor Dr. Kim Byoung-joo joins
me live in the studio.
So, the nation's corporate profit is on the decline - that can't be good news, right?
For each of the top 10 conglomerates that saw profits decline, how were they affected
last year?
-- [ #1 : Net
Profit : Top 10 Chaebol]
And, what's probably even more troubling is that...
when Samsung Group is taken out of the equation, the net profit drop for the top players amounts
to roughly 30 percent.
That highlights the growing dominance
of Samsung, correct?
-- [ #2 : Net Profit :
Top 10 Chaebol]
While most of the business groups are making less money, critics are saying that the owner
families of Korea's conglomerates are taking home more money than ever before.
Is that a
fair criticism?
-- [ #3 : Pay Gap among the Best Paid]
For
a wrap-up, what do see ahead for Korea's leading business groups?