South Korean consumers: Won over

The drink of patriots WHEN South Korean celebrities, eager to prove their patriotism, swapped their German BMW cars for home-grown Hyundais on television, during the Asian financial crisis in 1998, they rallied the whole nation behind domestic products. To wean South Koreans off their Coke and Pepsi, a local firm launched "815 cola", commemorating Korean liberation from Japan on August 15th 1945. American trainers were out, and hitherto uncool local brands were in. Hyundai's financial arm create...