(Sourced from BCC Global Media / Economy Chosun · Chosun Biz · Edaily)
Chang Zhao (趙暢), co-founder and CEO of the global consulting and media group BCC Global, headquartered in Shanghai, emphasized the importance of localization and market segmentation, saying, “If Korean companies perceive China as a single, uniform market, they will lose long-term opportunities.”
In an interview with Economy Chosun, he noted, “Korea builds walls against China while simultaneously calling it a ‘neighbor.’ This is a contradiction,” adding, “China is a composite economic zone in which each province and city has distinct consumer cultures, policies, and business environments, and companies must differentiate their strategies by region.”
He further stressed, “If Korea maintains a balance between the United States and China, it could become the biggest beneficiary after the next U.S. administration takes office.” His analysis is that it is essential to cooperate with the United States on technology and supply chains while maintaining relationships with China on consumption and market fronts.
Global Supply Chain Realignment and Korea’s Opportunity
CEO Chang stated, “Even if supply chains for advanced industries such as semiconductors, batteries, and biotech are realigned around the United States, Korea will remain a core partner,” adding, “Korean companies can reduce risks while maintaining market access if they efficiently allocate production bases across Southeast Asia and within China.”
He also said, “Consumer purchasing power in the Chinese market remains strong,” and added, “Companies must precisely identify local consumer trends in China and strategically position products tailored to segmented markets.”
China Is Not a Single Market
CEO Chang remarked, “China is one country, but economically and culturally it should be understood as dozens of different markets,” and added, “Not only major metropolitan areas but also inland cities have significant growth potential.” His advice is that true success depends on companies formulating local strategies at the provincial level and securing local talent and networks.
He continued, “BCC Global leverages a network of local experts to analyze industry data and policy changes in real time,” and stated, “Based on this information, we support the China and broader Asia market entry strategies of multinational companies.”
An Asia Market Hub Connected by Data and Insight
Founded in 2008 by CEO Chang Zhao and Taiwan-born co-founder Ted Lin, BCC Global is an Asia-based expert-network consulting firm. Having studied computer science at Stanford University, CEO Chang built technology and management experience across the United States and China, supporting overseas expansion of Chinese companies and domestic expansion in China by global firms.
Today, BCC Global operates in major cities across about a dozen countries, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, and Los Angeles, and maintains a pool of more than 400,000 industry experts. Leveraging this network and data, the company launched “BCC Global Media,” a trilingual (English, Chinese, Korean) news platform covering finance, industry, and investment.
CEO Chang stated, “We connect the flows of policy, industry, and capital through data, and through this we aim to build a foundation for Korean companies to be more deeply understood in global markets.”
Interpretations by Chosun Biz and Economy Chosun
Chosun Biz and Economy Chosun have assessed CEO Chang as “an executive who reads the speed and change of China’s millennial generation,” introducing his localization strategy as a touchstone for Korean companies to reset their perception of China. Their cover story noted, “The value shifts among China’s consumer generations can no longer be explained by a single ‘Chinese market,’” and, citing CEO Chang, reported that “understanding provincial and city-level cultural differences will become a competitive edge for Korean companies.”
A Shift to Viewing China as a Neighbor
In recent BCC Global Media coverage, CEO Chang emphasized that “the Chinese market should now be seen not as a ‘competitor’ but as a space for ‘co-creation (Co-creator).’” He stated, “A cooperative economic model in which Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia grow together will form the core structure of future Asia.”
He also stressed, “Long-term cooperation with China must evolve from simple trade into a mutually complementary partnership,” adding, “A shift in perspective to view China as a neighbor is the key to stability and prosperity in the East Asian economy.”
The Role and Vision of BCC Global
Founded in 2008, BCC Global operates branches across about a dozen countries, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, and Los Angeles, and has a pool of more than 400,000 experts. The company provides industry consulting, market research, and expert advisory services, and recently launched “BCC Global Media” to report industry news in English, Chinese, and Korean.
CEO Chang said, “We connect the flows of policy, industry, and capital through data to help companies understand the Asian market more strategically,” and added, “Going forward, through BCC Global Media we will provide practical insights from Asia’s business front lines.”
Sources:
- Economy Chosun (2018.12.01)
- Chosun Biz cover story citation
- Edaily MarketIn (2025.02.04)
- ZDNet Korea (2025.02.04)
- BCC Global Media (cited reporting, 2025.11)