I am sure President Trump will be pleased with this news:
Dan Song, president of LG Electronics’ home appliances business, front left, and Gov. Bill Haslam, front right, sign a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday in Tennessee. LG agreed to build a washing machine factory in the state. In the back row from left are Curtis G. Johnson, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives; Joo Hyung-hwan, Korean minister of trade, industry and energy; Kim McMillan, mayor of Clarksville; and William Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics USA. [LG ELECTRONICS]LG Electronics’ plans to build a washing machine factory in Tennessee are taking shape as it seeks to sustain growth in the key American market while avoiding punitive protectionist measures from Donald Trump’s administration.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government on Tuesday in Tennessee, with the goal of clinching a contract by June and beginning construction by the year’s end. LG will spend $250 million on the project.
The facility, to be built on a 300-acre plot of land in Clarksville, will begin making washing machines for sale in the United States by the first half of 2019 at the earliest, LG said. The plant will be able to produce at least a million units of both front- and top-loading machines a year. The site may later expand to production of other home appliances, the company said. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
I do like the fact that it may help create jobs for the Fort Campbell military community family members.
Floyd
7 years ago
Pretty soon Clarksville will have a higher percentage of Koreans than LA. The Hankook tire plant already added quite a bit to the already high Korean population, so the addition of LG will bring even more. As if there aren’t already enough Korean churches and bad drivers in Clarksville.
The management positions will be filled by Koreans from the headquarters in Korea, and a plant that size is likely to bring in a lot of managerial staff. The rank and file are going to be rednecks … err … locals. Although, because Ft. Campbell abuts Clarksville – and there is a very sizable Korean community there already – it’s very possible that some of the local Koreans (mostly dependent wives) will seek employment at the plant.
guitard
7 years ago
Read some reviews about working for Hankook Tire at http://www.glassdoor.com. Here’s a random sample:
I have been working at Hankook Tire full-time (Less than a year)
Pros: Co-workers are what makes this doable day to day.
Cons: Where do I begin?
1.The pay is below industry standards. It’s not even enough to make a living in Nashville with the high cost of living. And don’t even ask about a raise, they will tell you in a round about way that you don’t deserve it and you should be happy you’re working for them.
2. It’s the Korean way or no way. They will never adjust to the American culture of business which down the line will bite them in the butt. Don’t even try to sit down and talk to them about changing their ways because it will go in one ear and out the other and you would have wasted your breath and words. You would think as Americans they would consider your sound opinion, they don’t.
3. Global HQ in South Korea runs everything. We are their puppets.
4. Absolutely no job training. I sat at a desk for two weeks with no clear job direction or someone helping me. Also, they refuse to give you a job description because they honestly don’t know what the heck they hired you for. My co-workers gave me more information about my job than the general manager and assistant manager.
5. Did I mention pay?
6. Get everything in writing when it comes to agreements. If you don’t, you’ll get burned. Their word against yours.
7. Technology is so outdated because they are too cheap to get everyone new working computers and laptops.
I really want you to know that this review is serious and 100% accurate. I know people read these and go, “oh how bad can it be.” If you just said that reading this review and other reviews about this company, you need to consider another opportunity. Even if this is your last resort, please go look for another opportunity. I believe in paying it forward and helping other job seekers and I can tell you with 100% honesty and truthfulness and not out of bitterness, this is not going to be a good place to work if you decide to work here. The stress, the low pay, and the annoyance you will experience is not worth it, especially for the tire industry. Bridgestone is in town, look for jobs with them. Tire wholesales are in town, look for jobs with them. Trucking companies are in town, look for jobs with them. Anything but here to save your piece of mind. Run quick and don’t look back. You’ll be glad you did.Show Less
Advice to Management: Please increase pay and listen to your employees. People are leaving because they have better opportunities elsewhere. If you want to decrease your turnover rate, change the culture. If not, continue down the road you are and watch how many people get up and leave.
There were already a lot of Koreans here, but as soon as Hankook started production on their tire plant, they brought in a good number of managerial staff and their families, as well as construction workers to help build the plant (most of latter are already back in Korea). I believe most are here on a 6-month visa but so far, most of the wives have somehow stayed here with the kids while hubby goes back to Korea. They want to keep their kids here in the local schools vs. taking them back to the grind in Korea.
Anyway, Clarksville is a disaster when it comes to growth…yes, the city is growing and pulling in industry and jobs (last year it was the 2nd fastest growing city in the USA), but at the same time the developers who are on the city council are throwing up subdivisions on every available green spot, all without improving the local infrastructure. Traffic is a nightmare because very few of the roads were built to handle the flow of traffic the city now has.
I’d be surprised if the Korean managers were only staying for six months. I would think it’s probably a two or three year assignment for them. I know at some Korean companies, competition for overseas assignments is quite intense – and a big part of it is getting the kids over to the States to attend school.
You’re right; I misspoke. I asked my wife and she said it’s the lower workers who are on 6 month visas. The upper management is here longer but that’s only a select few. We’ve had quite a few new families join our church and the husbands had to leave after 6 months but somehow, some of the wives stayed here with their kids for the schooling (applying for green card, maybe?). Kind of interesting, the majority of the Koreans have no desire to go back to Korea; they like the school system here, the scenery, the ability to drive all over and see new places, the lack of traffic (obviously they haven’t gone to Atlanta yet), the food, and the variety of shopping, just to name a few.
The arrangement where the father works in Korea and supports the family while the mom and kids stay in an English speaking country for schooling is so common nowadays that there is a Korean phrase for that kind of father – he’s called a “goose father” (기러기 아빠). There are several spinoff phrases as well. Fathers with the means to occasionally travel and meet the wife and kids overseas are called “eagle dad” (독수리아빠); and those without the financial means to go and visit the family are called “penguin dad” (펭귄 아빠).
I suppose if you’re an “eagle dad,” there’s a chance “eagle momma” might get pregnant. On the other hand, if you’re a penguin dad and penguin momma gets pregnant … someone’s got some ‘splainin’ to do. In reality – most of these family are long since done having kids by the time they do this – so no storks necessary.
There is a silver lining to this for the mother. Not many of them will readily acknowledge this – but that 3-4 years spent overseas is 3-4 years she doesn’t have to deal with her evil mother-in-law.
You can thank being a right to work state for those conditions. Right to work means that the corporation can have any horrible working conditions and can fire a worker for any reason they wish without consequences.
This will just create a lot of agitators…
…but it will be intetesting to watch the spin.
I do like the fact that it may help create jobs for the Fort Campbell military community family members.
Pretty soon Clarksville will have a higher percentage of Koreans than LA. The Hankook tire plant already added quite a bit to the already high Korean population, so the addition of LG will bring even more. As if there aren’t already enough Korean churches and bad drivers in Clarksville.
You’re making it sound as if this isn’t going to create any new jobs for Americans, only for Koreans?
The management positions will be filled by Koreans from the headquarters in Korea, and a plant that size is likely to bring in a lot of managerial staff. The rank and file are going to be rednecks … err … locals. Although, because Ft. Campbell abuts Clarksville – and there is a very sizable Korean community there already – it’s very possible that some of the local Koreans (mostly dependent wives) will seek employment at the plant.
Read some reviews about working for Hankook Tire at http://www.glassdoor.com. Here’s a random sample:
I have been working at Hankook Tire full-time (Less than a year)
Pros: Co-workers are what makes this doable day to day.
Cons: Where do I begin?
1.The pay is below industry standards. It’s not even enough to make a living in Nashville with the high cost of living. And don’t even ask about a raise, they will tell you in a round about way that you don’t deserve it and you should be happy you’re working for them.
2. It’s the Korean way or no way. They will never adjust to the American culture of business which down the line will bite them in the butt. Don’t even try to sit down and talk to them about changing their ways because it will go in one ear and out the other and you would have wasted your breath and words. You would think as Americans they would consider your sound opinion, they don’t.
3. Global HQ in South Korea runs everything. We are their puppets.
4. Absolutely no job training. I sat at a desk for two weeks with no clear job direction or someone helping me. Also, they refuse to give you a job description because they honestly don’t know what the heck they hired you for. My co-workers gave me more information about my job than the general manager and assistant manager.
5. Did I mention pay?
6. Get everything in writing when it comes to agreements. If you don’t, you’ll get burned. Their word against yours.
7. Technology is so outdated because they are too cheap to get everyone new working computers and laptops.
I really want you to know that this review is serious and 100% accurate. I know people read these and go, “oh how bad can it be.” If you just said that reading this review and other reviews about this company, you need to consider another opportunity. Even if this is your last resort, please go look for another opportunity. I believe in paying it forward and helping other job seekers and I can tell you with 100% honesty and truthfulness and not out of bitterness, this is not going to be a good place to work if you decide to work here. The stress, the low pay, and the annoyance you will experience is not worth it, especially for the tire industry. Bridgestone is in town, look for jobs with them. Tire wholesales are in town, look for jobs with them. Trucking companies are in town, look for jobs with them. Anything but here to save your piece of mind. Run quick and don’t look back. You’ll be glad you did.Show Less
Advice to Management: Please increase pay and listen to your employees. People are leaving because they have better opportunities elsewhere. If you want to decrease your turnover rate, change the culture. If not, continue down the road you are and watch how many people get up and leave.
There were already a lot of Koreans here, but as soon as Hankook started production on their tire plant, they brought in a good number of managerial staff and their families, as well as construction workers to help build the plant (most of latter are already back in Korea). I believe most are here on a 6-month visa but so far, most of the wives have somehow stayed here with the kids while hubby goes back to Korea. They want to keep their kids here in the local schools vs. taking them back to the grind in Korea.
Anyway, Clarksville is a disaster when it comes to growth…yes, the city is growing and pulling in industry and jobs (last year it was the 2nd fastest growing city in the USA), but at the same time the developers who are on the city council are throwing up subdivisions on every available green spot, all without improving the local infrastructure. Traffic is a nightmare because very few of the roads were built to handle the flow of traffic the city now has.
I’d be surprised if the Korean managers were only staying for six months. I would think it’s probably a two or three year assignment for them. I know at some Korean companies, competition for overseas assignments is quite intense – and a big part of it is getting the kids over to the States to attend school.
You’re right; I misspoke. I asked my wife and she said it’s the lower workers who are on 6 month visas. The upper management is here longer but that’s only a select few. We’ve had quite a few new families join our church and the husbands had to leave after 6 months but somehow, some of the wives stayed here with their kids for the schooling (applying for green card, maybe?). Kind of interesting, the majority of the Koreans have no desire to go back to Korea; they like the school system here, the scenery, the ability to drive all over and see new places, the lack of traffic (obviously they haven’t gone to Atlanta yet), the food, and the variety of shopping, just to name a few.
The arrangement where the father works in Korea and supports the family while the mom and kids stay in an English speaking country for schooling is so common nowadays that there is a Korean phrase for that kind of father – he’s called a “goose father” (기러기 아빠). There are several spinoff phrases as well. Fathers with the means to occasionally travel and meet the wife and kids overseas are called “eagle dad” (독수리아빠); and those without the financial means to go and visit the family are called “penguin dad” (펭귄 아빠).
A goose, an eagle, a penguin, lol. What about a stork to deliver the baby with US citizenship? 🙂
I suppose if you’re an “eagle dad,” there’s a chance “eagle momma” might get pregnant. On the other hand, if you’re a penguin dad and penguin momma gets pregnant … someone’s got some ‘splainin’ to do. In reality – most of these family are long since done having kids by the time they do this – so no storks necessary.
There is a silver lining to this for the mother. Not many of them will readily acknowledge this – but that 3-4 years spent overseas is 3-4 years she doesn’t have to deal with her evil mother-in-law.
You can thank being a right to work state for those conditions. Right to work means that the corporation can have any horrible working conditions and can fire a worker for any reason they wish without consequences.
In Venezuela they don’t have those problems. Maybe you would like it better there.