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Abstract
Transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) have used varied strategies to access previously closed markets. Using TTCs' efforts to enter the South Korean market from the late 1980s as a case study, this article asks whether there are common patterns in these strategies that relate to the broader economic development models adopted by targeted countries. An analytical review of the existing literature on TTCs' efforts to access emerging markets was conducted to develop hypotheses relating TTCs' strategies to countries' economic development models. A case study of Korea was then undertaken based on analysis of internal tobacco industry documents. Findings were consistent with the hypothesis that TTCs' strategies in Korea were linked to Korea's export-oriented economic development model and its hostile attitude towards foreign investment. A fuller understanding of TTCs' strategies for expansion globally can be derived by locating them within the economic development models of specific countries or regions. Of foremost importance is the need for governments to carefully balance economic and public health policies when considering liberalisation.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded in part by the National Cancer Institute, US National Institutes of Health, Grant No. CA-113710 and CA-091021. The funder played no role in the decision to submit the article or in its preparation. Sungkyu Lee, Chris Holden and Kelley Lee conceived the core ideas of the study and agreed upon the key focus and methodology. Sungkyu Lee collected the data and prepared the initial draft of the manuscript. Chris Holden and Kelley Lee corroborated the analysis, revised the manuscript and reviewed it for final submission. All approved the final version submitted for publication.