A Convergent Study of Motivations, Success Factors and Issues of Foreign Entrepreneurs in South Korea

Due to globalization, more foreign-owned small businesses have been joining the South Korean economy. In order to better support the growth, this study's purpose is to identify foreign entrepreneur demographics and company information as well as entrepreneurial motivations and perceived success factors. To fulfill these goals, a survey of 98 immigrant entrepreneurs from 31 countries doing business within the local Korean market was conducted. The results show that most foreign-owned small businesses are service-oriented and primarily started for intrinsic reasons. It was also identified that the perceived business success determinants that the government can most directly affect are skills-based, rather than infrastructure or financially oriented. Furthermore, top issues include unreliable employees, language barrier and too much competition. The findings of this study are particularly relevant to both academics and policy makers alike because almost no prior foreign entrepreneur-focused research has been conducted in Korea.