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41 gEt down to businEss Twelve expat entrepreneurs talk about how they got their start and what it took to keep their business going. While most of these folks have called Korea home for more than a few years, it turns out that time in the country is not a prerequisite. People just got up off their behinds and created something people needed or wanted. Simply put, start, keep going and don’t give up. artist’s journEy: nyK mEdia John Weeke and Nick Neon, two astrologically well-matched and talented NYC flm graduates, met in Seoul and decided to start NYC Media Group, a Seoul-based video agency. With clients ranging from JW Marriott to the International Vaccine Institute, the NYC Media Group is helping to translate language and culture between Korea and the West through their videos. Their ultimate aim is to become a full- service advertising agency. maKing tHings HappEn Between the large pay gaps and low hiring rates, improving women’s career options in Korea is no easy mission. The Seoul International Women’s Association has been working at this for the past 50 years, aiming to turn the tables by creating practical tools to help working women succeed. Their Working Women’s Network provides a unique opportunity for women to network, and has been met with resounding interest from both Korean and foreign women. more familiar to business owners in the West: what to buy, what services to offer, how to advertise and so on. She says she has had no problems with either red tape or obtaining per- mits. “The vast majority of difficulties I’ve encountered while running this busi- ness have been exacerbated by the language barrier,” Desmarais said. “I speak Korean pretty well, but when it comes to legal and accounting terms and professional language, I have a lot to learn!” But not all ailments have been cured. Working with a Korean busi- ness partner can still make life easier for the foreign entrepreneur. Todd Sample, 41, owner of Well Dressed, a men’s and women’s tailor shop in Gangnam, did just that. All the paper- work is in his partner’s name. “For this particular industry, the local knowledge of the tailors, which fabric suppliers are the best, which tailors are the best, there’s a lot of informa- tion it would be nearly impossible for a foreigner to figure out,” Sample said. One setback is that while those who are ethnically Korean or married to one can establish residency here, non-Korean investors now need 100 million won to get an investment visa, double what it used to be, accord- ing to Steve McKinney, head of the Seoul Global Center, a space that provides free office space, mentoring and resources for foreigner-owned businesses. “But it is still better than what is required in most of Asia,” said McKinney. McLeod said local and nation- al governments have stepped in to help. “Now, support and acceptance are coming at a more micro level and being directed by the Korean gov- ernment, especially led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government,” McLeod says. “They have finally understood that true globalization comes from having (a) foreign business presence inside Korea.” Story by Dave Hazzan / Illustration by Adela Ordonez / Sidebar by Merissa Quek ‘tHE vast majority of difficultiEs i’vE EncountErEd wHilE running tHis businEss HavE bEEn ExacErbatEd by tHE languagE barriEr. i spEaK KorEan prEtty wEll, but wHEn it comEs to lEgal and accounting tErms and profEssional languagE, i HavE a lot to lEarn!’ anna dEsmarais, body & sEoul martial arts and fitnEss cEntEr 02.2013 07.2013 05.2014 More info j Business Network Korea www.businessnetworkkorea.com Seoul Global Center www.global.seoul.go.kr