What brands do CEOs at Korea`s top 500 companies like?

"Driving Equus and using Galaxy S smartphone with a subscription for SK Telecom."

This is what describes average CEOs at Korea`s top 500 companies. According to a survey conducted by business monthly magazine "The New Management" of 188 CEOs at top 500 companies, they prefer SK Telecom for telecom service at 82 percent, and Samsung Electronics` Galaxy S smartphone at 71 percent. Korean Air (airline), Chamisul (soju) and Equus (automobile) follow at 66 percent, 59 percent and 56 percent.

Hyundai Motor`s Equus and Korean Air have been preferred by CEOs every year since the brand survey began in 2003. Yet the preference for the Hyundai Equus preference has dropped by 12 percentage points from last year, whereas the premium sedan Hyundai Genesis has risen by 13 percentage points.

By large department stores, Shinsegae (30 percent) has led in preference Lotte (25 percent), becoming No. 1. By duty free shops, Hotel Shilla (43 percent) has outpaced Lotte (38 percent). In the financial sector, Shinhan Bank has become the most preferred bank for the fourth straight year since 2012.

CEOs` preferred brands also include Cheil Industries` Galaxy suit, Samsung Ramien apartments, Samsung Medical Center and Urusa nutritional supplement.