During March of 1967, the Daewoo Group was established by Kim Woo-Jung. He was the son of Daegu's Provincial Governor. He first graduated from the Kyonggi High School and afterward went onto the Yonsei University in Seoul where he finished with a Degree in Economics. Daewoo became amongst the Big Four chaebol in South Korea. Growing into an industrial empire and a multi-faceted service conglomerate, the company was prominent in expanding its worldwide market securing many joint projects worldwide.
In the 1960's, park Chung Hee's government started to promote the growth and development within the nation after taking office at the end of the Syngman Rhee government. Exports were promoted in addition to financing industrialization and increasing access to resources to provide protection from competition from the chaebol in exchange for political support. At first, the Korean government instigated a series of 5 year plans under which the chaebol were required to accomplish a series of particular basic objectives.
Daewoo became a major player as soon as the second 5 year plan was applied. The company profited significantly from cheap loans sponsored by the government based upon the potential proceeds which were earned from exports. Firstly, the business focused on labor intensive clothing industries and textile that provided high profit margins. South Korea's large workforce was the most important resource in this particular plan.
Between the years of 1973 and 1981, when the third and fourth 5 year plans occurred for Daewoo; Korea's workers was in high demand. The nations competitive advantage started to dwindle because of increased competition from several countries. In response to this change, the government responded by concentrating its effort on electrical and mechanical engineering, construction efforts, petrochemicals, military initiatives and shipbuilding.
Ultimately, Daewoo was forced into shipbuilding by the government. Even though Kim was hesitant to enter the industry, Daewoo rapidly earned a reputation for manufacturing reasonably priced ships and oil rigs.
During the next decade, the Korean government brought a lot more liberal economic policies by reducing positive discrimination, loosened the protectionist restrictions on imports, and supported small private companies. While supporting free market trade, they were likewise able to force the chaebol to be a lot more aggressive overseas. Daewoo successfully established several joint projects with European and American companies. They expanded exports, semiconductor design and manufacturing, machine tools, aerospace interests, and various defense products under the S&T Daewoo Business.
Daewoo ultimately started constructing affordable civilian airplanes and helicopters compared to counterparts in North America. Then the company expanded more of their efforts into the automotive industry. Remarkably, they became the 6th biggest automobile maker on the globe. During this particular time, Daewoo was able to have great success with reversing faltering businesses within Korea.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, Daewoo moved into other sectors comprising computers, consumer electronics, buildings, telecommunication products and musical instruments like for instance the Daewoo Piano.
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