MNC CEOs’ response to the ‘Korea passing’ phenomenon

“Have you ever received pressure from corporate headquarters to consider ‘Korea passing’?”

This question was asked to every multinational pharmaceutical company CEO interviewed by the reporter. Although the answer differed for each company and CEO, all the answers shared one common sentiment – a sense of burden.

With the idea that ‘new drugs come from multinational pharmaceutical companies’ yet firmly established in Korea, it would have been difficult for them to say that “the company will not sell drugs to Korea because Korea sets prices low.” Such a response would imply that the company disregards ‘p