chaebol

[je-buhl]

noun

plural

chaebol, chaebols 

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

chaebol

/ ˈtʃeɪbɒl /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaebol¹

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”; zaibatsu ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaebol¹

C20: from Korean, literally: money clan

Example Sentences

In South Korea, the collusive links between chaebol families and powerful politicians have recently triggered a string of scandals, culminating in the impeachment of a former president and the arrest of Samsung's family leader for bribery.

From Salon

Mr. Lee, South Korea’s wealthiest person, according to Bloomberg News, is a scion of the family that founded Samsung, the largest of the family-run conglomerates known as chaebol that have transformed South Korea into an export superpower and influence nearly every facet of society.

From New York Times

Samsung is the largest and most successful of the South Korean conglomerates known as chaebol.

From New York Times

Some South Koreans speak proudly of the chaebol for having helped transform the country from a war-ravaged agrarian economy into a global export powerhouse.

From New York Times

Fictional chaebol families have been depicted in Korean dramas.

From New York Times