In 1962, South Korea assembled just 1,100 new automobiles. By 1996, this total had soared to 2,812,714. What explains this remarkable growth? The answer is complex, and involves a combination of a supportive State, timely technology alliances, a skilled but historically low-paid workforce, aggressive pricing, savvy entrepreneurs, and fortuitous circumstances. Despite this amazing ascent, comparatively little has been written about the Korean auto industry in English. In the first of a two-volume set, this 11-chapter book seeks to help fill this void by providing in-depth examinations of all six of Korea’s automakers from their beginnings through 1996. Uniquely written from the perspective of industry analysts at the time (without knowledge of the Asian Fiscal Crisis), the book should prove informative to practitioners, scholars, and students interested in automotive history, international political economy, Asian studies, and more.
Author(s): A. J. Jacobs
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 433
City: Cham
Acknowledgments
Contents
About the Author
Abbreviations
Administrative Divisions of South Korea
List of Figures
List of Tables
Part I The Rise of South Korea’s Auto Industry: Beginnings to 1996
1 Introduction and Overview: The Rise of the Korean Auto Industry
Introduction
The Four Stages of the Korean Auto Industry, 1962–1996
Overview of Book
Some Notes on the Research Process
Notes About Names
Notes About Exchange Rates
References
2 The State and Development in South Korea: From Yi to Early Park
Introduction
Beginnings: A Brief Summary of Korea Until 1910
The Japanese Colonial Origins of Korean Industrialization, 1910–1945
U.S. Occupation, Partition, and Civil War: The Post-WW-II Transition Period, 1945–1953
The Post-Korean War Rhee Development Context, 1953–1960: Dependency, Cronyism, and Political Capitalists
Rhee Ousted, Second Republic: Prelude to Park, 1960–1961
“Look East” Governmentalism and Rapid Export Drive: The Early Park Regime, 1961–1972
Concluding Remarks on Early Park, 1961–1972
References
3 Park’s Engineering of a South Korean Auto Industry: Beginnings to 1979
Introduction
Auto Industry Beginnings to Rhee
Creating the Structures for a Domestic Auto Industry, 1961–1967
Korea’s First Authorized Automakers, 1962–1967
Aided by Japanese Automakers: Park Forges a Domestic Auto Industry, 1967–1972
Heavy Industry Drive, Rapid Growth, People’s Cars, 1973–1979
Conclusions: The Auto Industry Grows as the Park Regime Falls
References
4 The Korean Auto Industry’s Post-Park Emergence Between Crises: 1980–1996
Introduction
Early Chun Realignments, 1980–1982
Japan–US Trade War Spurs Hyundai-Led Export Growth, 1983–1987
The Auto Industry and the Tumultuous End to the Chun Regime
Roh’s Partial Democratization and the Auto Industry, 1988–1992
Prelude to a Crisis: The Young-Sam Kim Regime, 1993–1996
Conclusion: Structural Adjustments, Democratization, and the Future of the Korean Auto Industry
References
Part II Korean Carmaker Stories, 1962–1996
5 Daewoo, Shinjin, and the Forerunners of GM Korea: Beginnings to 1996
Introduction
Daewoo Motors Origins: National, Saenara, and Shinjin, 1937–1966
Shinjin Toyota, 1967–1972
The First GM Korea, 1972–1975
Goodbye Shinjin: GM Korea Becomes Saehan, 1976–1979
After Park—Saehan Becomes Daewoo Motors, 1979–1987
Labor Unrest and Daewoo Bids GM Goodbye, 1987–1992
Daewoo’s Global Offensive Starts at Home, 1993–1996
Daewoo Accelerates into the Global South
Daewoo Seeks to Conquer Europe, 1993–1996
Conclusion: Prelude to Crisis, the Future for Daewoo Motors?
References
6 Kia Motors, from Bikes to Cars: Beginnings to 1996
Introduction
Kia’s Beginnings, 1930–1971
Kia Briefly Becomes a Carmaker, 1972–1976
Kia Takes Over Asia Motors, but Loses Its Car Business, 1976–1981
Kia the Truckmaker Again, 1982–1987
Kia Motors the Carmaker, Rises Out of Asia, 1987–1996
Conclusion: Prelude to Crisis, the End of Kia Motors?
References
7 Hyundai Motor Part I: From Construction to Cars, Beginnings to 1987
Introduction
Origins to Hyundai Construction, 1937–1960
Hyundai Construction Begets Hyundai Motor, 1961–1976
The Pony Opens the Gates for the Hyundai Excel, 1977–1983
Rapid Export Growth Powers Hyundai Motor, 1983–1986
The 1987 Unrest and Its Impact on Hyundai Motor
Conclusion: Hyundai Motor Through 1987 and What’s Next
References
8 Hyundai Motor Company Part II—Rapid Growth and Internationalization: 1987–1996
Introduction
The Excel “Phenomenon” Provokes Trade Friction, 1987–1988
The Failed Hyundai Canada Plant, 1988–1992
Y.S. Kim Helps Spur Hyundai’s Expansion at Home, 1993–1996
The End of Hyundai Canada, 1993–1996
Hyundai Lays the Foundations for Its Internationalization, 1993–1996
Summary and Conclusion: Hyundai Motor Prospects for Post-1996
References
9 Dong-A and Shinjin Jeep Beget Ssangyong Motor: Beginnings to 1996
Introduction
The Making of the Ssangyong Chaebol, 1939–1983
From Ha Dong-Hwan to Dong-A Motors, 1954–1983
The Failed Shinjin Jeep Becomes Geohwa Motors, 1969–1983
Dong-A Buys Geohwa, Then Cedes to Ssangyong, 1984–1992
New Era, Ssangyong’s Boom and Bust, 1993–1996
Ssangyong Motors’ Outlook for the Future: 1996 and Beyond
References
10 The Origins of Samsung Motors: Beginnings to 1996
Introduction
The Origins of the Samsung Group
The First Attempt at Samsung Motors with Chrysler, 1981–1988
Samsung’s Alliance with Nissan Diesel and Blocked Takeover of Kia, 1989–1993
Samsung–Nissan Alliance Approved for Busan Not Daegu, 1993–1996
Samsung Future Agenda, Pre-Asian Crisis
References
Part III Volume 1—Conclusion and Summary
11 The Korean Auto Industry, 1962–1996: Summary, Conclusion, and Prelude to Volume 2
Introduction
Korean Vehicle Production Trends, 1955–1996
Korean Automaker Export Trends, 1962–1996
Domestic Market Trends, 1965–1996: From Three Equals to Hyundai Dominance
Future Outlook for Korea’s Automakers: The Hyundai Motor Group at the Start of 1997
Future Outlook for the Kia Motor Group at the Start of 1997
Future Outlook for Daewoo Motors at the Start of 1997
Future Outlook for Ssangyong Motor at the Start of 1997
Future Outlook for Samsung Motors at the Start of 1997
Prelude to Volume 2—Reorganization and Maturation: The Korean Auto Industry Since the 1997 Asian Fiscal Crisis
References
Index
