Work with Don
Confidential strategy engagements, C-suite briefings, board presentations, and executive workshops.
Don Southerton is the founder and CEO of Bridging Culture Worldwide, with more than 30 years advising on Korean Peninsula business, cross-border ventures, and international corporate practices. He is a recognized expert on Korean business culture, ownership and control structures, and the relationship between commercial entities and the Korean state.
He advises top Korea-based global corporations and major Western firms with Korean ventures, working directly with executives on market entry, partnership structuring, foreign direct investment, trade and tariff strategy, crisis management, and government affairs.
In the Media
Don is frequently cited on Korean business and the Korean economy by The Economist, Bloomberg TV, BBC World News, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, CNN, Yonhap, and The Korea Times.
Author
Don is the author of seventeen books on Korean business, US-Korea history, and historical fiction, including the Hyundai Way series, now in its fourth edition with Hyundai Way: Transformation, along with Korea Facing, Korea Perspective, and Korea 101 The Book. His work also traces the roots of US-Korea commercial ties, including Intrepid Americans and Colorado's Henry Collbran and the Roots of Early Korean Entrepreneurialism, drawing on more than three decades advising Korean chaebols and Fortune 500 companies.
Daily Korea-US Intelligence Briefing
Don publishes a weekday Korea-US intelligence briefing read by executives across the automotive, technology, energy, and legal sectors, plus a Saturday global review and a Sunday week in review.
Background
Don holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Colorado, with postgraduate studies at UC San Diego, USC, and UCLA. He is engaged in ongoing study of Transactional Law at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, with emphasis on trade, technology, intellectual property, international relations, and government affairs.
A former United States Military Academy coach and a lifetime martial artist and master instructor, he lives in Golden, Colorado.
University of Colorado
B.A. & M.A.
USC Gould School of Law
Transactional Law study
Master instructor
Lifetime martial artist