Inroads
Global IT companies such as Amazon Web Services and Oracle are trying to recruit cloud computing personnel in Korea in order to expand their business in the domestic public cloud computing market.
The IT giants have built cooperative relations with smaller Korean IT and cloud computing firms prior to the business expansion on the determination that favorable public opinions for themselves are essential for the penetration of the public cloud computing market.
For example, IBM Korea increased its annual assistance for Korean startups for this year by more than 10-fold from a year earlier. It also provides services worth up to 120 million won a year free of charge for those startups burdened about IT infrastructure and management personnel investment.
Microsoft has provided the Global Network Program for cloud computing business partners with Korean companies such as Samjung Data Service and Hostway Korea. The program is to share cloud computing technology, relevant tools and private and hybrid cloud computing services.
“It is true that foreign cloud computing companies are competition for Korean firms but they are also a kind of role models or textbook examples with abundant tips and know-how,” said a domestic software developer, adding, “Korean companies need to make use of their solutions if they are to go abroad in the long term.”