This book presents a conversational history of Kim Woo Choong, once dubbed "Kim-ghis Khan" by the Western media. By 1997, he had built the largest multinational corporation originating from an emerging market economy. His Daewoo Group was poised to become Korea's largest conglomerate, having strategically secured positions across Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Iran, Vietnam, and China. Yet in 1999, shortly after Korea recovered from the financial crisis, Daewoo was dismantled. Often portrayed as a cautionary tale of corporate failure, Kim and Daewoo tell a far more complex story—one that offers enduring lessons for global business. Kim pioneered a distinctive model of global management rooted not in technological dominance but in capabilities forged through Korea's national development and hard-won experience in the world's most challenging emerging markets.Beyond business, Kim's life intersected deeply with politics and diplomacy. He advised multiple Korean presidents, acted at times as a confidential envoy, and contributed to major diplomatic initiatives, including contacts with North Korean leaders and efforts toward inter-Korean reconciliation. He cultivated an extraordinary international network, engaging figures such as Henry Kissinger, Muammar Gaddafi, and Jiang Zemin, and often served as an informal mediator across political divides. His approach combined bold strategic vision with striking personal directness and empathy. By examining both his global business strategy and his human relationships, this book seeks to illuminate not only the rise and fall of Daewoo but also the character and leadership style of a man whose legacy continues to provoke debate and offer inspiration.
