KOTRA Overseas Korean Companies Directory: Overview
The KOTRA Overseas Korean Companies Directory is a systematic database tracking the global presence of Korean companies operating internationally. The 2024 edition registers approximately 75,000 Korean companies (subsidiaries, branches, and representative offices) across 195 countries, providing statistics segmented by country, industry sector, and revenue scale.
This analysis reviews the global statistics before conducting an in-depth examination of Korean companies operating in Bangladesh. In South Asia, Bangladesh ranks second only to India in the number of Korean company establishments, with investment concentrated in garment and manufacturing sectors.
Global Distribution
The regional distribution of overseas Korean companies is Asia (55%), North America (18%), Europe (12%), Latin America (6%), Middle East (5%), and other regions (4%). Within Asia, China remains the dominant location by a significant margin but has been declining in recent years, while Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh are growing rapidly.
| Region | No. of Companies | Share | YoY Change | Major Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 41,000 | 55% | +3% | China, Vietnam, Japan |
| North America | 13,500 | 18% | +2% | USA, Canada, Mexico |
| Europe | 9,000 | 12% | +1% | Germany, UK, Poland |
| Latin America | 4,500 | 6% | +5% | Brazil, Mexico, Chile |
| Middle East | 3,750 | 5% | +4% | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran |
| Other | 3,250 | 4% | +6% | Australia, Africa, etc. |
South Asia Korean Company Comparison
Within South Asia, India overwhelmingly leads in Korean company presence, followed by Bangladesh in second and Sri Lanka in third. Bangladesh has fewer companies than India, but the per-company employment scale is substantially larger, resulting in a high contribution to the local economy.
Korean Companies in Bangladesh: Detailed Breakdown
Analysis of the approximately 450 Korean companies operating in Bangladesh by sector reveals a pronounced concentration in garments and apparel manufacturing, accounting for over 60% of the total. However, new entries in IT/services, construction, and trading have increased over the past five years, signaling early-stage diversification.
| Sector | No. of Companies | Share | Avg. Employment | Avg. Revenue | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garments & Apparel | 280 | 62% | 2,000 | $18M | Stable |
| Textiles & Fabrics | 45 | 10% | 800 | $12M | Slight increase |
| Trading & Commercial | 40 | 9% | 15 | $8M | Increasing |
| Construction & Engineering | 25 | 6% | 200 | $30M | Increasing |
| IT & Services | 20 | 4% | 50 | $3M | Rapid growth |
| Food & Restaurant | 15 | 3% | 80 | $5M | Increasing |
| Other (Finance, Logistics, etc.) | 25 | 6% | 100 | $10M | Stable |
The KOTRA Overseas Korean Companies Directory reveals that Bangladesh is transitioning in its role — from "a core garment manufacturing base" to "a diversifying investment destination." The 450+ companies employing over 500,000 workers represent the second-largest Korean company presence in South Asia after India, and Korean companies' contribution to the Bangladeshi economy is substantial. The recent increase in new IT, services, and trading entrants signals a gradual structural shift away from the historically manufacturing-dominant profile.