Top 10 South Korean Brands in India: Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, and More

South Korea and India have built a deep economic relationship over the past three decades. Korean conglomerates — known as chaebols — have made India a priority market for electronics, automobiles, and industrial goods. Korea is now one of the top five countries of origin for foreign-controlled brands in India. Here are the ten most prominent.

1. Samsung

Parent: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
India's largest smartphone brand and a dominant force in consumer electronics and home appliances. Samsung India employs tens of thousands and manufactures phones in Noida — but ultimate control and royalties belong to South Korea.

2. LG

Parent: LG Electronics Inc., Seoul, South Korea.
LG India leads in air conditioners and washing machines. The Indian subsidiary is wholly owned by the South Korean parent.

3. Hyundai

Parent: Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul.
India's second-largest car brand. Hyundai Motor India Ltd. listed publicly in 2024, but Hyundai Motor Company retains 82.5% control. Sells Creta, Verna, i20, Alcazar, and Tucson in India.

4. Kia

Parent: Kia Corporation, Seoul — majority-owned by Hyundai Motor Group.
Kia entered India in 2019 with the Seltos and quickly became a top-5 car brand. Kia India Pvt. Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary. The Seltos has been one of India's best-selling SUVs.

5. Lotte (Confectionery)

Parent: Lotte Corporation, Seoul, South Korea.
Lotte sells chocolates and confectionery in India. The Lotte Group is one of Korea's largest chaebols with food, retail, and hospitality businesses.

6. Posco (Steel)

Parent: POSCO Holdings Inc., Pohang, South Korea.
POSCO supplies steel to Indian manufacturers, particularly automotive. The Korean steel giant has invested significantly in Indian steel supply chains.

7. Coway (Home Appliances)

Parent: Coway Co., Ltd., Seoul.
Coway sells water purifiers and air purifiers in India's premium appliance market. Increasingly visible in urban Indian homes.

8. HL Klemove / Mando (Automotive Components)

Parent: Hyundai Mobis / HL Group, South Korea.
Korean auto component companies supply braking systems, ADAS components, and electronic systems to Indian car manufacturers — particularly Hyundai and Kia plants.

9. Korean Air / Asiana

Parent: Korean Air Lines, Seoul.
Korean Air operates flights between India and South Korea. With the rise in Indian travel and the Korean Wave, Korean airlines have expanded India-Korea connectivity.

10. CJ CheilJedang (Food)

Parent: CJ CheilJedang Corp., Seoul.
CJ's processed foods and K-food products are increasingly available in Indian supermarkets, riding the Korean Wave. The K-drama and K-pop influence has opened consumer markets for Korean food brands.

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South Korea's economic footprint in India extends from the car in your garage to the phone in your pocket to the fridge in your kitchen. All ten brands listed above are foreign-controlled. The Switch To India platform tracks their full ownership structures and provides Indian alternatives.