By Don Southerton, Editor
In February I hosted BBC World Service journalist Gareth Mitchell in Korea. This is first of Gareth’s series on Korea cool tech. LINK http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p016tl1t
Gareth Mitchell with Gary Donohue: technology integration specialist for the ‘Village’ School at Chadwick International School in Songdo IBD, South Korea
Questions, Comments?
For Immediate Release
Denver, Mar 18, 2013 — Author Don Southerton announces the release of his latest historical novel set in the early years of the twentieth century in what is now North Korea. The work is titled A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier, Book Three 1900–1907. The book weaves key historic events of the era with a fictional account of Yankee trader Josh Gillet.
Southerton notes, “Linking fact and fiction, A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: the Northern Frontier follows Connecticut Yankee Josh Gillet’s adventures in Korea during the early 1900s when American concessionaires and influence were making huge new inroads in Korea. ”
In addition the author points out, “American missionaries and traders formed a core cadre among the foreigners who ventured to what the West called the Hermit Kingdom. The Korean monarch Kojong, looking to thwart ever-growing Japanese imperialism, pursued a strategy of granting trade concessions, including lucrative mining rights, to westerners. By the early 1900s, the Northern Frontier mines were among the richest in Asia. It is here the main character Josh settles and becomes a productive member of the mining community. Meanwhile, growing tensions between Russia and Japan move the region and Korea ever closer to war.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will appeal to those interested in better understanding Korea and the role westerners played in the opening of the region to the commerce and modernization.
About the Author
Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. He has authored numerous publications with topics centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton is often called upon by the media (the BBC World Service, Bloomberg TV, Korea Times, Yonhap, Wall Street Journal, tbs eFM and Forbes) to comment on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm Bridging Culture Worldwide provides strategy, consulting and training to Korea-based global business.
This is the author’s third historical novel. The Northern Frontier is the final installment of the A Yankee in the Morning Calm trilogy. The series blends fact with ample amounts of imagination.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will be available through iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and Google.
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By Don Southerton, Editor
Since researching and then authoring a book on Songdo International Business District (IBD), I have watched the Incheon project and similar new urban communities face a number of challenges. Beyond huge development costs, the vision for these communities requires not only providing but also sustaining a high quality of living.
With regard to Songdo IBD, the community rises from reclaimed land on the western coast of South Korea. More significantly, the project embraces high standards for design, sustainability and, most importantly, an unparalleled lifestyle. Specifically the developer boldly set out to transform and reshape the model for urban communities.
That said, with regard to Songdo and other new urban projects I have been drawn to a question, “Have high profile new urbanism communities met their early visions and expectations?”
Although like with similar project that were stalled by the global recession, Songdo now is back on its growth plan. Gazing out from Songdo’s North East Trade Tower’s 68th floor observation area on a cold February morning, I could see the city more than 50% complete. When completed in 2017, Songdo IBD will be home to 65, 000 residents with about 27,000 people already residing within the project. Equally encouraging, the halls of Chadwick International School Korea now ring with the sound of children, many of whom are carrying laptops. Enrollment over the next few years is expected to grow from the current 700 students to 1200.
NEATT ( on right)
Looking at Songdo IBD, several areas deserve review…
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Sustainability – Today, Songdo IBD boasts 13.7 million square feet of LEED-certified space. Along with continued plans to meet LEEDs standards in new construction, the project’s sustainability features a state of art cogeneration plant for electricity with waste heat collected and used in warm buildings with the city. Somewhat of a surprise, and in conjunction with a robust recycling program, Songdo also has the world’s largest pneumatic waste collection system with garbage from across the city directed into a network of large underground pipes, which carry the waste to central facilities. This eliminates the need for the fleet of garbage trucks seen making morning collections in most cities and results in the reduction in traffic, related noise and vehicular pollution. Visiting the collection center, one quickly appreciates the city-wide complexity in the consolidating process and management of the waste.
Green and Open Space Per the Master Plan, 40% of Songdo IBD has been designated to be open space. Looking down from the NEATT observation floor, and in contrast with the high urban density one finds across much of the greater Seoul region, the strong commitment to providing open and green space is apparent from the 100 acre Central Park to canals to walk and bike pathways.
Smart Cities One final dimension of Songdo IBD meeting its vision is the project’s strategic partnership with and commitment from Cisco to become a leading example of a smart and connected city. For example, along with technology to link and share data across an integrated network, buildings and residents will be able to better, fine tune energy demands and monitor and control apartment lights and temperature. In all, there will be constant IP connectivity across Songdo IBD.
Expectations Overall, Songdo IBD is making good on its promises and pledges. As expected with any project the size and scale of Songdo IBD, I see some adaptation to new trends. One modification from the early vision of the project is a shift from offering traditional commercial office development to university campuses and biotech research centers– a more knowledge-based focus and community. Of course, sustaining the vision over time will require continued support of government, institutions, businesses, and residents. However, I expect that visitors to Songdo (Korean and foreigners) will appreciate the community’s new urbanism focus and envy a life style in which one can live, walk to work and stroll through Central Park.
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By Don Southerton, Editor
My recent tbs eFM 1013 Main Street interview. eFm is Seoul Korea’s top English language radio station. The interview centered on my new Korea Facing book and insights into global business.
Here’s the link to download.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/147rfbdiivr7mr3/efm_Interview.mp3
Questions? Want a complimentary copy of the book? Just email dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
By Don Southerton, Editor
I’m often asked, “Don we know you work with most of the top Korean
groups, their overseas teams and leadership, but what exactly do
you do?”
One aspect of my work is providing leadership with a cross-
cultural success strategy. Another dimension is conducting training
sessions and workshops when serious issues surface that disrupt
global operations.
In addition, I also work with non-Korean executives of
global companies doing business in Korea, or with businesses
partnered with Korean firms.
But, essentially I teach “collaboration.” This is my message. That
said, implementing and facilitating collaboration is not a quick
and easy task. Expertise is required to discover core issues that
impede operations, along with implementing a long lasting action plan and
sound countermeasures.
BTW I’m always looking for new and engaging client projects. If
you have something in mind just email me, or call and we can
discuss.
1-310-866-3777
By Don Southerton, Songdo to Belmar Editor
As we begin a new year, I’d like to share thoughts on Korean facing global business for 2013.
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Questions?
BTW We are always interested in new opportunities, so keep us in mind….
Contact: Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
DS
By Don Southerton, Editor
Thought you may appreciate links to my recent Korea media interviews. Essentially, I encourage collaboration and offer thoughts on what is the best way to approach Korean facing business–in Korea and globally. BTW Each interview looks at the topic from a different perspective.
1. Last week’s tbs eFm Seoul radio interview is now available in mp3 format.
Here’s the link. Just download and listen.
http://sites.google.com/site/ds19192/mp3/0108_Don_Southerton.mp3
2. WSJ Korea Real Time
Southerton Advises Non-Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices
Wall Street Journal
This was also re-posted on Marmot’s Hole, the leading Korean blog for expats.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2013/01/18/advice-for-non-koreans-working-for-korean-companies-overseas/
3. Busan Hap
http://www.busanhaps.com/article/korea-facing-interview-korea-global-consultant-don-southerton
Hope this is helpful…. more media to come…
My thanks go to the eFM Morning Show team, WSJ’s Evan Ramstad, Marmot’s Robert Koehler, and Busan Haps’ Jeff Liebsch…
DS
By Don Southerton, Editor
The Wall Street Journal Korea Real Time blog and journalist Evan Ramstad did a wonderful job sharing insights into our newly released book Korea Facing: Secrets for Success with Korean Global Business. For the full article and interview, go to:
http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/01/14/southerton-advises-non-koreans-in-overseas-korean-offices/
Southerton Advises Non-Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices
January 14, 2013, 6:50 PM KST
By Evan Ramstad
As we’ve noted in the past, the canon of English-language books that explain South Korea’s contemporary life and culture for people doing business here is quite small.
But there’s a niche that’s even smaller: advice books for non-Koreans who work for Korean companies in other countries.
Don Southerton, a U.S. business consultant, has written several publications centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. His firm, Bridging Culture Worldwide, provides strategy, consulting and training to businesses that are working in South Korea.
Just a few weeks ago, he published his latest, an e-book and paperback called “Korea Facing: Secrets for Success in Korean Global Business.” With it, he has flipped the tables to look at the challenges that non-Koreans face working in the overseas offices and subsidiaries of Korean firms. The book is available in e-book form for Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Apple’s iPad devices.
For the full Korea Real Time article and interview, go to:
http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/01/14/southerton-advises-non-koreans-in-overseas-korean-offices/
Again, best wishes in the new year…
With the release of Korea Facing: Secrets for Success in Korean
Global Business feedback and comments have been very positive. In
some cases, global teams are sharing the book across their
organization as a tool to better educate staff on the nuances of
their Korea-based company. We’ve also been interviewed by Seoul’s
tbs eFM “This Morning” show, (an on-demand link to the talk is
forthcoming) with more media interviews in the works…
One common question is how to access the book? There are several
options.
Option #1 Apple iBook (my favorite and free)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/korea-facing-secrets-for-success/id589661138?ls=1
Option #2 A PDF version is available upon request.
Option #3 Kindle or Nook.
Option #4 Amazon, which offers the book in eBook and Print versions.
Questions, Comments, Feedback? I’d be interested in your thoughts.
As always, if you or your company has need for my consultancy,
please let me know by email or Phone +1-310-866-3777. We’re always
interested in learning more about your business needs and opportunities.
Don
For Immediate Release
Denver, Colorado January 1, 2013 Korea global business expert Don Southerton has released his latest new publication, an eBook titled Korea Facing: Secrets for Success in Korean Global Business. Southerton notes “With ever-growing number of people employed by Korean-based companies outside of South Korea, this book will provide western teams and management with a strategy and skills to succeed.” Topic covered in the ebook include working with Korean expatriates, managing business partnership expectations, and understanding the Korean decision making and thought process.
Readers will find Korea Facing differ from most books on Korean business with the target audience global teams working outside South Korea and not those employed in Korea, although they, too, will benefit from its content. The author further explaining, “Likewise, if your firm provides services or products to a South Korean overseas subsidiary this book will be beneficial and offer tactics to strengthen and maintain the relationship.”
Finally, Southerton points out a third group that will benefit, ” If your company has significant business in Korea, but leadership and headquarters are located in the West, the book will offers key management suggestions on how best to deal with pressing issues and challenges that surface.”
The eBook is available through iBook, Kindle, Nook, and Amazon. A complimentary PDF version is available upon request. (Just email me, dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com)
About the author
When Fortune 500 companies, top Korean Groups, leading international law firms, the media, and elite consultancies like Bain and Monitor look for Korean-facing branding, business strategy, coaching, market-entry, and advice-they turn to Don Southerton. With over 35 years experience, Don Southerton is the definitive authority on Korean-facing global business and branding–from automotive, golf, and QSR/food sectors to New Urbanism and Green technology. When questions surface in development, launch, or fulfillment, we provide sound research, solutions, and comprehensive strategies.
Building on a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country, Southerton has authored numerous publications with topics centering on culture, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures.
Southerton extensively writes and comments on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. ###