chaebol

American  

[je-buhl] / ˈdʒɛ bəl /

noun

chaebol, plural chaebols plural

1. a South Korean conglomerate, usually owned by a single family, based on authoritarian management and centralized decision-making.

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chaebol British  

/ ˈtʃeɪbɒl /

noun

1. a large, usually family-owned, business group in South Korea

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chaebol
  plural
• chaebols
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chaebol

First recorded in 1970–75; from Korean chaebŏl, from chae “wealth, property” + pŏl “clique, faction,” formed from the Korean pronunciation of the two Middle Chinese characters whose Japanese pronunciation is “zaibatsu”; see origin at zaibatsu ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chaebol chaebols

Moe is one of many analysts at present pointing out the progress made on corporate governance reform which has improved shareholders returns and narrowed the discounts on conglomerate or chaebol shares.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 6, 2026

But even as a chaebol, Amorepacific says it looks to smaller independent brands for fresh ideas.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026

It is South Korea's largest chaebol, the family-run conglomerates that dominate the country's economy.

From Barron's ● Nov. 16, 2025

Song plays Yoon Hyun-woo, a longtime employee of the chaebol family-run Soonyang Group.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2023

Korean corporations — the family-owned conglomerates known as chaebol that have long been art buyers and philanthropists — have also funded art initiatives abroad.

From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2023

A year ago, Lee was pledging to eliminate the low valuation multiples attached to Korean stocks owing to decades of mistreatment of minority shareholders by the dominant chaebols.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 25, 2026

South Korea’s technology scene is still dominated by the conglomerates known as chaebols, with startups playing a marginal role.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026

Mr Kim's rise from humble beginnings to become a multi-billionaire has made him hugely popular in a country where a few family-run corporations, known as chaebols, control much of the economy.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2024

The Koo lawsuit is one of several recent legal proceedings involving chaebols that highlight the challenges of family succession and control.

From New York Times ● Dec. 18, 2023

South Korean chaebols, Japanese keiretsu, as well as American conglomerates frequently used these cheap funds to prop up their stock or to invest in real estate, driving prices up in both markets artificially.

From Crime and Corruption by Vaknin, Samuel