Korea - Chicago Business Facts

Korean Small Business Corporation Business Development Center – houses several Korean companies; Other Korean-based companies at stand-alone locations (at least 25) in greater Chicago

At least 50 Chicago-area companies in Korea

  • ITW, Global Hyatt, United Airlines…

2010 Imports to the Chicago Customs District

  • Total: US$7.8 billion

Top Import Categories:

  • Electric Machinery; Sound Equip.; TV Equip. 
  • Industrial Machinery, Including Computers 
  • Vehicles, Except Railway or Tramway; Parts

2010 Exports from the Chicago Customs District

  • Total: US$1.7 billion

Top Export Categories:

  • Industrial Machinery, Including Computers
  • Optic, Photo, Medical or Surgical Instruments
  • Pharmaceutical Products

Korean Consulate General of the Midwest; Korea Trade Investment-Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Chicago

Korean ethnic support organizations and churches; 30 registered Korean cultural schools, 100+ other weekend schools; Korean TV and print outlets

Busan, Republic of Korea Sister City, since 2007

Third largest Korean community in the US after NYC and LA; 3,500 Korean students; 3,000 ethnic Korean-owned businesses; 58,000 Koreans living in Illinois

Busan Mayor Hur Nam-Sik visited Mayor Daley, Jan. 2009

CME-KRX listings agreement, 2008

Korean Expo 2009 held in Chicago at Navy Pier