chaebol

noun chae·bol \ ˈchā-ˌbōl , ˈje-ˌbəl \

|Updated on: 29 Jul 2018

Definition of chaebol

plural chaebol also chaebols

: a family-controlled industrial conglomerate in South Korea

Recent Examples of chaebol from the Web

South Korea often brims with schadenfreude when a chaebol scion is publicly humiliated.

— choe sang-hun, New York Times, "Sister of Korean ‘Nut Rage’ Heiress Accused of Throwing Her Own Tantrum," 13 Apr. 2018
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour against senior prosecutors, chaebol owners and board members there have since come to light as more women are feeling empowered.

— The Economist, "The best—and worst—places to be a working woman," 15 Feb. 2018
The South Korean government has for decades made faster internet speeds a priority, and the country's chaebols (South Korean equivalents of conglomerates) have followed suit.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "South Korea's Already Great Internet Gets Even Greater," 10 May 2018
Corporate-governance experts have criticized the structure for giving too much power to Hyundai’s chaebol owners.

— julie steinberg, WSJ, "Elliott Management Reveals Over $1 Billion Stake in Hyundai, Seeks Clearer Road Map," 4 Apr. 2018
Read more here about South Korea’s effort to reform chaebol.

— sohee kim, Bloomberg.com, "Korean Tycoon Jailed in Bribery Case That Toppled a President," 13 Feb. 2018
Lee’s sentence, while less severe than the 12-year jail term prosecutors sought, was one of the harshest sentences for a chaebol leader.

— sohee kim, Bloomberg.com, "Prosecutors Try to Jail 95-Year-Old Lotte Founder for Decade," 1 Nov. 2017
The vast majority of people on the minimum wage work at smaller businesses, not chaebol.

— The Economist, "Promising the MoonSouth Korea tries to boost the economy by hiking the minimum wage," 12 Oct. 2017
Public anger with the chaebol, South Korea’s conglomerates, makes such special treatment improbable.

— The Economist, "Business this week," 31 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chaebol.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chaebol

Korean chaebŏl, from chae wealth, property + pŏl faction, clan

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1972

in the meaning defined above

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