chaebol
Family-controlled Korean corporation
A chaebol is a large South Korean family-controlled business conglomerate, typically with diversified holdings across multiple industries.
Samsung, Hyundai, and LG are chaebols.
The term carries connotations of concentrated economic power and close ties to government—chaebols have driven South Korea's rapid industrialization but also attracted criticism for monopolistic practices and corruption.
South Korean tech conglomerate
Original establishing clan
- successionFollowing in order
- heirOne who receives legacy
- patriarchMale head of family
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
hereditary · lineage · inheritance · crown prince · grooming · birthright · primogeniture · blood ties
Abundance of money
- assetsOwned items of value
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- capitalWealth used for investment
- plutocracyRule by the rich
oligarchy · luxury · real estate · yacht · private jet · art collection · philanthropy · endowment
Business owning other businesses
- subsidiaryOf lesser importance
- affiliateConnected member organization
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
- diversificationExpanding into varied areas
vertical integration · octopus arms · flagship · parent company · corporate governance · monopoly · oligopoly · market dominance
Favoring friends in appointments
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- presidential pardonLeader's power to forgive crimes
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- impeachmentCharging officials with misconduct
scandal · too big to fail · national champion · economic development · protectionism · industrial policy · state capitalism
Samsung
South Korean tech conglomerate
founding family
Original establishing clan
- successionFollowing in order
- heirOne who receives legacy
- patriarchMale head of family
nepotism · hereditary · lineage · inheritance · crown prince · grooming · birthright · primogeniture · blood ties · family feud
affluence
Abundance of money
plutocracy · oligarchy · luxury · real estate · yacht · private jet · art collection · philanthropy · endowment · tax evasion
holding company
Business owning other businesses
- subsidiaryOf lesser importance
- affiliateConnected member organization
- multinationalOperating across multiple countries
diversification · vertical integration · octopus arms · flagship · parent company · corporate governance · monopoly · oligopoly · market dominance
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- presidential pardonLeader's power to forgive crimes
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
impeachment · scandal · too big to fail · national champion · economic development · protectionism · industrial policy · state capitalism
chaebolsmall business
Modest independent commercial venture
sole proprietorship · small enterprise · microenterprise · startup · cottage industry