South Korea is a key economic partner of India with several Korean companies operating in India across sectors like electronics, automobiles, finance, steel, textiles and more. Altogether, more than 1000 Korean companies are present in India. Bilateral trade between India and South Korea reached USD 21 billion in the year 2024, and is projected to reach USD 50 billion by the year 2030. Government of India is hugely supportive of South Korean investments in India and has even set up a dedicated Korea Plus desk to facilitate the smooth entry of South Korean companies in India. South Korean companies are especially prominent in the automobiles and electronics market, including smartphones, in India. Let’s have a look at the top 10 leading South Korean companies in India for the year 2025.
1. Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics, founded in the year 1969, is South Korean multinational giant in the field of consumer electronics, which entered India in the year 1995. Headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, Samsung Electronics is a major brand in India across multiple types of high-tech consumer electronics like smartphones, tablets, home appliances like refrigerators and washing machines and wearable devices like smartwatches. The company is particularly known for its Galaxy series of smartphones and tablets which are hugely popular in India.
Samsung Electronics operates two manufacturing plants in India, located in Chennai and NOIDA. The company has more than 200,000 retail outlets all over India. Biggest revenue generator for the company in India are smartphones.
2. Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Motor Company, established in the year 1967, is a South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer, which is operating in India since the year 1996 through its fully owned subsidiary, Hyundai Motor India Limited. The company sells a wide range of car models across customer segments, including i20, i20 N line, Venue, Creta, Creta N line, Alacazar and the latest electric SUV IONIQ5, through a network of 1366 sales points across India.
HMIL operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant near Chennai which manufactures its full range of vehicle models. The company also acts a hub for exports to numerous countries in Middle East and Africa.
3. LG Electronics
LG Electronics, founded in the year 1958, is a major multinational South Korean manufacturer of home appliances, consumer electronics and computer hardware, which is operating in India since the year 1997 through its wholly owned subsidiary, LG Electronics India Limited. The company is a major brand in home appliances and home entertainment systems market in India with a large product portfolio, including LED televisions, air conditioning systems, washing machines and refrigerators.
LGEIL has two manufacturing facilities, located at Greater Noida in UP and Ranjangaon in Maharashtra. Both the facilities are eco-friendly and have been categorised as greenfield units.
4. Kia Corporation
Kia Corporation, founded in the year 1994, is the second largest South Korean automotive manufacturer. It entered the Indian market in the year 2019 through its subsidiary, Kia India. Kia India first launched the Seltos model which was specifically designed for India. Apart from Seltos, the company has launched four more models in India, namely Carena, Sonet, Carnival and EV6.
Kia India operates a manufacturing plant in Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh which has churned out 6.3 lakh car units till date. The company has a widespread network of 339 sales points across the country.
5. POSCO
POSCO, established in the year 1968, is a South Korean steel manufacturer which is operating in India since the year 2005 through its subsidiary, POSCO India Private Limited. The company’s entity named POSCO Maharashtra Steel provides cold rolled steel, cold rolled non-grain oriented steel, galvanized steel and galvannealed steel to automotive and other industries.
POSCO India operates 5 state-of-the-art steel processing facilities in Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Hyderabad. Its authorised distributors are present in Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Chennai.
6. Daewoo Electronics
Daewoo Electronics, established in the year 1971, is a South Korean multinational manufacturer of home appliances and electronics automotives which entered the Indian market in the year 2023 in partnership with Kelwon Electronics and Appliances, a company based in Gurgaon, Haryana.
Daewoo Electronics is providing numerous products to the Indian consumers. These include inverters, inverter batteries, smart televisions, automobile batteries, alkaline water machines, interactive displays and solar panels.
7. Lotte Group
Lotte Group, founded in the year 1948, is a South Korean multinational conglomerate with diversified business interests, including confectionery, hospitality and retail. The company is operating in the Indian confectionery market since the year 2004 through its subsidiary, Lotte India Corporation Limited. Lotte India owns multiple popular confectionery brands in India, including Coffee Bite, Lacto King, Lotte Éclairs and Lotte Choco Pie.
Lotte India operates two state-of-the-art facilities for dedicated choco pie production in Rohtak and Chennai, apart from a manufacturing unit in Nellikuppam near Puducherry. The company has a network of over a million retail outlets and more than 2000 distributors across India.
8. Doosan Group
Doosan Group, founded in the year 1896, is a South Korean multinational conglomerate with diversified business interests, including construction equipment, power plants, drones, robots, hydrogen production and desalination plants. It has been operating in India since the year 2000. The company provides electrical equipment, general and special purpose construction equipment and transport equipment to the Indian market.
9. Krafton Inc.
Krafton Inc. is a major South Korean gaming developer which was founded in the year 2018. It entered the Indian market in the year 2019 through its subsidiary, Krafton India. Krafton India has emerged as a major player in the Indian gaming industry with a number of popular gaming tiles to its credit, including BGMI, Road to Valor, Garuda Saga and Defense Derby.
10. Innisfree
Innisfree, founded in the year 2000, is a South Korean cosmetics and skincare brand which operates in the Indian market as well. The company provides a diverse range of cosmetic and skincare products to the Indian consumers, including moisturisers, sunscreens, face wash, lip balm and body lotion.
Conclusion
South Korean companies in India are significantly contributing in terms of job creation, technological advancements and increasing manufacturing and exports. Investments and partnerships by South Korean companies are set to increase in the coming years.