As the highest-ranking non-Korean executive at Hyundai Motors headquarters, Frank Ahrens spent three years gaining an insider's perspective on Korean corporate culture. In his new memoir, "Seoul Man," Ahrens recounts the ups and downs of his journey as an American trying to acclimate to daily life in Korea and to working life inside one of the country's top chaebols.
We talk with Frank this week about his experiences joining Hyundai and his new book. Frank became a director at Hyundai Motor in 2010 and was promoted to Vice President of Global Corporate Communications two years later. He created the company’s first English-language corporate media site, including a blog and Twitter feed, and helped establish the company’s first public relations operation in the Middle East in Dubai.
South Korea as a Liberal Democracy: Darcie Draudt
Mongolia and the Korean Peninsula: Dr. Alicia Campi
East Meets South: Ahn Choong-yong and Jagganath Panda
Peace Corps Story: Kathleen Stephens
Korea, Japan, and the Missing Advocate: Kristin Vekasi and Jiwon Nam
The Great Successor: Anna Fifield
Defending Korea, from the Nakdong to the Chosin: Colonel John Stevens
How China Sees the Korean Peninsula: Lee Seong-hyon
At Best Unique, At Worst Delusional - North Korea's Special Economic Zones: Theo Clement
Explainer: The Political Origins of Korean Baseball
Explainer: The State of Korea's Childcare Industry
North Korea's Illicit Trade Winds: Hugh Griffith
Why North Korea Won't Budge: Ken Gause
Going Back to The Source: Jeffrey Robertson
[Rebroadcast] Valuing Age and Experience: Yongmin Cho and Quan Nguyen
Explainer: Ultrafine Dust Crisis
[Rebroadcast] We Built This Bureau: Elise Hu
From Maximum Pressure to Maximum Leverage: Daniel Wertz
[Rebroadcast] In Defense of KORUS: Phil Eskeland, Troy Stangarone, and Kyle Ferrier
When North Korea Embraces Mobile Technology: Yonho Kim
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free