Location of South Korea
South Korea is a sovereign state in East Asia , constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula .[ 1] Highly urbanized at 92%,[ 2] South Koreans lead a distinctive urban lifestyle; half of them live in high-rises [ 3] concentrated in the Seoul Capital Area with 25 million residents[ 4] and the world's sixth-leading global city [ 5] with the fourth-largest economy [ 6] and seventh-most sustainable city in the world.[ 7]
Driven by a highly educated and skilled workforce, it has the world's eighth-highest median household income , the highest in Asia, and its singles in particular earn more than all G7 nations. Globally, it ranks highly in personal safety ,[ 8] job security , and healthcare quality, with the world's third-highest health adjusted life expectancy and fourth-most efficient healthcare system.[ 9] It is the world's largest spender on R&D per GDP , leading the OECD in graduates in science and engineering[ 10] and ranking third in the Youth Wellbeing Index.[ 11] Home of Samsung , POSCO , LG and Hyundai-Kia , South Korea was named the world's most innovative country in the Bloomberg Innovation Index ,[ 12] ranking first in business R&D intensity and patents filed per GDP . As of 2014, it has the world's fastest Internet speed and highest smartphone ownership , ranking first in ICT Development , e-Government [ 13] and 4G LTE coverage .
For further information on the types of business entities in this country and their abbreviations, see "Business entities in South Korea ".
Largest firms
This list shows firms in the Fortune Global 500 , which ranks firms by total revenues reported before 01 February, 2025.[ 14] Only the top five firms (if available) are included as a sample.
Rank
Image
Name
2024 Revenues (USD $M)
Employees
Notes
31
Samsung
$198,257
267,860
Multinational electronics conglomerate, and one of the world's largest information technology firms. Closely branded subsidiaries include Samsung Electronics , Samsung C&T Corporation , Samsung Electro-Mechanics , Samsung Heavy Industries , Samsung Life Insurance , and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance .
73
Hyundai Motor Company
$124,577
73,502
Third-largest automotive manufacturer, including its Kia Motors and Genesis Motors brand divisions, and regional subsidiaries Hyundai Motor India Limited , Beijing Hyundai , Hyundai Motor America , and Hyundai Motor Europe GmbH .
100
SK Group
$101,969
114,950
Diversified conglomerate with more than 95 subsidiaries and affiliates, including SK Innovation (Energy), SK Telecom (telecommunications), SK Hynix (semiconductors), and SK C&C (consulting).
162
Kia
$76,419
52,871
Multinational automobile manufacturer, 34% owned by Hyundai Motor
201
Korea Electric Power Corporation
$66,977
48,696
Korea's largest electrical utility, majority-owned by the Korean state. The firm provides for generation, distribution, and major development projects.
0–9
English
Korean
Group
Industry
Sector
Headquarters
Founded
Notes
5Rocks
-
-
Technology
Software
Seoul
2010
Mobile analytics
A
B
C
D
English
Korean
Group
Industry
Sector
Headquarters
Founded
Notes
Daehan Tire
대한타이어
-
Consumer goods
Tires
Seoul
1990
Tires
Daewoong Pharmaceutical
대웅제약
-
Industrials
Biopharmaceutical
Seoul
1945
Biotechnology, (KRX : 069620 )
DL E&C
디엘이앤씨 주식회사
DL Group
Industrials
Construction & materials
Seoul
1962
Construction
DL Group
디엘 주식회사
DL Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1939
Automotive, construction, industrials, oil and gas, financials
DASAN Networks
다산네트웍스
-
Telecommunications
Telecommunications equipment
Seoul
1993
Telecommunications equipment manufacturer
DI Corporation
디코퍼레이션
-
Technology
Semiconductors
Seoul
1955
Semiconductor testing equipment
DNA Motors
DNA 모터스
DL Group
Consumer goods
Automobiles
Changwon
1978
Motorcycles
Dongbu Group
동부그룹
Dongbu Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1969
Steel, financials, chemicals, industrials
Dongkuk Steel
동국제강
-
Basic materials
Basic resources
Seoul
1954[ 16]
Steel
Doosan Enerbility
두산중공업
Doosan Group
Industrials
Construction & materials
Changwon
1962
Heavy industrial construction
Doosan Engineering & Construction
두산건설
Doosan Group
Industrials
Construction & materials
Seoul [ 17]
1960
Construction
Doosan Fuel Cell
두산퓨얼셀
Doosan Group
Industrials
Renewable energy
Iksan
2019
Fuel cell
Doosan Group
두산그룹
Doosan Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1896
Industrials, Defense, infrastructure
Doosan Robotics
두산로보틱스
Doosan Group
Industrials
Robotics
Suwon
2015
Cobot, service robot
E
F
English
Korean
Group
Industry
Sector
Headquarters
Founded
Notes
FILA
휠라
-
Consumer goods
Clothing & accessories
Seoul
1911
Sportswear
G
H
English
Korean
Group
Industry
Sector
Headquarters
Founded
Notes
Haitai
해태제과식품
Crown Confectionery
Consumer goods
Food & beverage
Seoul
1945
Instant foods
Halla Group
한라그룹
Halla Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1962
Automotive, construction
Hana Financial Group
하나금융그룹
-
Financials
Financial services
Seoul
1971
financial services
Hanjin
한진 그룹
Hanjin
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1945
Airlines, tourism, travel
Hanjin Shipping
한진 해운
Hanjin
Industrials
Industrial transportation
Seoul
1977
Defunct 2017
Hankook Ilbo
한국일보
-
Consumer services
Publishing
Seoul
1954
Publishing
Hankook
한국타이어
-
Consumer goods
Tires
Seoul
1941
Tires
Hansol
한솔
Hansol
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1965
Construction, chemicals, telecom
Hanwha
한화그룹
Hanwha
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1952
Industrials, chemicals, defense, financials
Hanwha Aerospace
한화에어로스페이스
Hanwha
Industrials
Aerospace & defense
Seoul
1977
Aircraft parts & accessories, military vehicles, engines, rockets
Hanwha Life Insurance
한화생명
Hanwha
Financials
Insurance
Seoul
1946
Life insurance
Hanwha Ocean
한화오션
Hanwha
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Geoje
1978
Shipyard
Hanwha Total
한화토탈
Hanwha
Basic materials
Chemicals
Seoul
1988
Chemicals
Hanwha Vision
한화비전
Hanwha
Industrials
Electronic & electrical equipment
Seongnam
1977
Opto electronics, surveillance systems
HCT Co., Ltd.
에이치시티
-
Technology
Semiconductors
Icheon
2000
Semiconductor
Hite Brewery
하이트맥주
Hite Brewery
Consumer goods
Brewers
Seoul
1933
Brewery, (KRX : 103150 )
HiteJinro
하이트진로
Hite Brewery
Consumer goods
Brewers
Seoul
1924
Distillery
Hotel Shilla
신라호텔
Samsung
Consumer services
Travel & leisure
Seoul
1979
Hotels
Humax
휴맥스
-
Telecommunications
Telecommunications equipment
Seoul
1989
Broadband equipment manufacturer
Hybe Corporation
주식회사 HYBE
-
Consumer services
Media
Seoul
2005
Record label
Hyosung
효성그룹
Hyosung
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1966
Chemical, industrials, construction
Hyundai Amco
엠코건설
Hyundai Motor Group
Industrials
Construction & materials
Seoul
2002
Construction and materials
Hyundai Asan
현대아산
Hyundai Group
Financials
Real estate
Goseong
1998[ 19]
Development
Hyundai Capital
현대캐피탈
Hyundai Motor Group
Financials
Financial services
Seoul
1993
Financial services
Hyundai Corporation
현대종합상사
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
Industrials
General industries
Seoul
1976
Trading, logistics
Hyundai Department Store Group
현대백화점그룹
Hyundai Group
Consumer services
Retail
Seoul
1971
Retail holding company
Hyundai Engineering & Construction
현대 건설
Hyundai Motor Group
Industrials
Construction & materials
Seoul
1947
Construction and engineering
Hyundai Glovis
현대글로비스 주식회사
Hyundai Motor Group
Industrials
Industrial transportation
Seoul
2001
Logistics
Hyundai Group
현대
Hyundai Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1947
Construction, transportation, power
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
현대중공업그룹
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
Conglomerates
-
Ulsan
1972
Industrials, construction, defense, transportation, oil & gas
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
현대중공업 (주)
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Ulsan
1972
Shipyard, engine & heavy machinery manufacturer
Hyundai IHL
현대
Hyundai Motor Group
Consumer goods
Auto parts
Seoul
1993
Parts and services
Hyundai Merchant Marine
현대상선
Hyundai Group
Industrials
Industrial transportation
Seoul
1976
Marine transport
Hyundai Mobis
현대모비스 주식회사
Hyundai Motor Group
Consumer goods
Auto parts
Seoul
1977
Parts and services
Hyundai Motor Company
현대자동차
Hyundai Motor Group
Consumer goods
Automobiles
Seoul
1967
Automobile manufacturer
Hyundai Motor Group
현대자동차그룹
Hyundai Motor Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
2000
Holding group
Hyundai Oilbank
현대오일뱅크
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
Oil & gas
Oil & gas producers
Seoul
1964
Refinery
Hyundai Rotem
현대로템 주식회사
Hyundai Motor Group
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Seoul
1999
Military vehicles, railway vehicles, plant engineering
Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries
현대삼호중공업
Hyundai Heavy Industries Group
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Yeongam
1998
Shipyard
Hyundai Steel
현대제철
Hyundai Motor Group
Basic materials
Basic resources
Incheon
1953
Steel
Hyundai Wia
현대위아
Hyundai Motor Group
Consumer goods
Auto parts
Changwon
1976
Parts
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
English
Korean
Group
Industry
Sector
Headquarters
Founded
Notes
Renault Korea
르노코리아
Renault (France)
Consumer goods
Automobiles
Busan
1994
Automobile manufacturer
S
English
Korean
Group
Industry
Sector
Headquarters
Founded
Notes
S.M. Entertainment
SM엔터테인먼트
-
Consumer services
Media
Seoul
1989
Record label
Samick
삼익악기
-
Consumer goods
Consumer electronics
Eumseong County
1958
Musical instruments
Samsung
삼성
Samsung
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1938
Electronics, financials, retail, media
Samsung Biologics
삼성바이오로직스
Samsung
Industrials
Biopharmaceutical
Incheon
2011
Biotechnology, (KRX : 207940 )
Samsung C&T Corporation
삼성물산
Samsung
Industrials
Construction & materials
Seoul
1938
Construction and engineering
Samsung Card
삼성카드
Samsung
Financials
Financial services
Seoul
1988
Credit cards
Samsung Digital Imaging
삼성디지털이미징
Samsung
Industrials
Electronic & electrical equipment
Seoul
2009
Optoelectronics
Samsung Display
삼성디스플레이
Samsung
Industrials
Electronic & electrical equipment
Asan
2004
Display products
Samsung Economic Research Institute
삼성경제연구소
Samsung
Industrials
Support services
Seoul
1986
Industrial think tank
Samsung Electro-Mechanics
삼성전기
Samsung
Industrials
Electronic & electrical equipment
Suwon
1973
Electronic components
Samsung Electronics
삼성전자
Samsung
Consumer goods
Consumer electronics
Suwon
1969
Consumer electronics
Samsung Engineering
삼성엔지니어링
Samsung
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Seoul
1970
Engineering
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance
삼성화재
Samsung
Financials
Insurance
Seoul
1952
General insurance
Samsung Heavy Industries
삼성중공업
Samsung
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Seoul
1974
Shipyard
Samsung Life Insurance
삼성생명보험
Samsung
Financials
Insurance
Seoul
1957
Life and health insurance
Samsung Medical Center
삼성의료원
Samsung
Health care
Health care providers
Seoul
1994
Hospital
Samsung SDS
삼성에스디에스
Samsung
Technology
Computer services
Seoul
1985
I/T consulting
Samyang Food
삼양식품
-
Consumer goods
Food & beverage
Seoul
1961
Food and beverage conglomerate, processed food
Sindoh
신도
-
Technology
Computer hardware & peripherals
Seoul
1960
Computer printing equipment
SNT Dynamics
SNT다이내믹스
-
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Changwon
1959
Defense, military vehicles, automotive
SNT Motiv
SNT모티브
-
Industrials
Defense
Busan
1981
Defense, firearms
Standard Chartered Korea
SC제일은행
Standard Chartered (UK)
Financials
Banks
Seoul
1929
Bank
Seoul Broadcasting System
에스비에스
-
Consumer services
Media
Seoul
1991
Broadcasting
Shinhan Bank
신한은행
-
Financials
Banks
Seoul
1897
Bank
Shinsegae
신세계
-
Consumer services
Retail
Seoul
1955
Department stores
SK Broadband
SK Group
Telecommunications
Fixed line telecommunications
Seoul
2008
Acquired by SK Group in 2008
SK ecoplant
SK에코플랜트
-
Industrial
Renewable energy
Seoul
1962
Solar panels, offshore wind power structures (KRX : 003340 )
SK C&C
에스케이씨앤씨
SK Group
Technology
Computer services
Seoul
1991
I/T consulting
SK Group
에스케이그룹
SK Group
Conglomerates
-
Seoul
1953
Energy, chemicals, telecom, semiconductors
SK Hynix
에스케이하이닉스 주식회사
SK Group
Technology
Semiconductors
Icheon
1983
Semiconductor, (KRX : 000660 )
SK Oceanplant
SK오션플랜트
-
Industrial
Offshore wind power
Goseong
1996
(KRX : 100090 )
SK Telecom
에스케이텔레콤
SK Group
Telecommunications
Mobile telecommunications
Seoul
1984
Wireless
SL Corporation
에스엘코포레이션
-
Consumer goods
Auto parts
Gyeongsan
1954
Parts
S-Oil
에쓰오일
-
Oil & gas
Oil & gas producers
Seoul
1977
Refinery
Starship Entertainment
스타쉽 엔터테인먼트
LOEN Entertainment
Consumer services
Media
Seoul
2008
Record label
STX Corporation
에스티엑스
STX Corporation
Conglomerates
-
Changwon
1976
Industrials, construction, financials
STX Offshore & Shipbuilding
STX조선해양
STX Corporation
Industrials
Industrial engineering
Changwon
1962
Shipbuilder
T
W
Y
See also
References
^ This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook . CIA .
^ 지표상세 . Index.go.kr . July 24, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2016 .
^ [수도권]‘응팔 아파트’ 만들기 서울시의 이색 도전 : 뉴스 : 동아닷컴 . News.donga.com (January 7, 2016). Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ "Current population of the Seoul National Capital Area" . Statistics Korea.
^ Institute for Urban Strategies, The Mori Memorials Foundation (2015). Global Power City Index 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2016
^ Global Metro Monitor |Brookings Institution . Brookings.edu (January 22, 2015). Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ "Sustainable City Index 2016 - Comparing cities" . Arcadis .
^ Crime Index by Country 2016 . Numbeo.com. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ Lu, Lisa Du lisadont Wei (September 29, 2016). "U.S. Health-Care System Ranks as One of the Least-Efficient" . Bloomberg.
^ "These are the 10 smartest countries in the world when it comes to science" . Business Insider. December 4, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2016 .
^ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2016-11-07 .{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "The Bloomberg Innovation Index" . Bloomberg .
^ UN E-Government Survey 2014 . Unpan3.un.org. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
^ DeCarlo, Scott (1 February 2025). "The Fortune 2024 Global 500" . Fortune .
^ AJU Group: Private Company Information - Bloomberg
^ Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg
^ Doosan Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg
^ 연혁 | EUGENE
^ Hyundai Asan Corporation: Private Company Information - Bloomberg
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