http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/la-fg-korea-samsung-20100510,0,5749941.storySamsung doesn't find satirical spoof amusing
The South Korean electronics giant's libel suit against a British columnist shows both the power of corporate conglomerates and a different view of defamation, satire and free speech.By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times
May 10, 2010
Reporting from Seoul
In his Christmas Day 2009 column for the Korea Times, Michael Breen decided to lampoon such national newsmakers as President Lee Myung-bak and the pop idol Rain.
Headlined "What People Got for Christmas," the English-language column also poked fun at global technology giant Samsung Electronics, referring to past bribery scandals as well as perceptions that its leaders are arrogant.
The piece was meant as a satirical spoof, the columnist says, but Samsung wasn't laughing. snip
The message: Even when joking, don't mess with the chaebols.
"In South Korea, it's considered taboo to criticize the chaebols," said Kim Ky-won, professor of economics at Korea National Open University. "They hold very close to absolute power."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChaebolChaebol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Chaebol
Hangul 재벌
Hanja 財閥
Revised Romanization Jaebeol
McCune–Reischauer Chaebŏl
Chaebol (alternatively Jaebol, Jaebeol; Korean pronunciation:
) refers to a South Korean form of business conglomerate. They are powerful global multinationals owning numerous international enterprises. The Korean word means "business family" or "monopoly" and is often used the way "conglomerate" is used in English.
There are several dozen large Korean family-controlled corporate groups which fall under this definition. Through aggressive governmental support and finance, some have become well-known international brand names, such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
