GM Korea Integrated Service Center (Image provided by GM Korea)
SEOUL, March 18 (Korea Bizwire) — GM Korea has officially unveiled the world’s largest GM-owned service center, underscoring the automaker’s long-term commitment to the South Korean market.
At a media tour held on Tuesday at the GM Seoul Service Center in Yeongdeungpo, William Henry, GM’s senior vice president for international operations, emphasized the center’s significance.
“In other countries, customers interact with dealerships or non-GM-operated service centers,” he said. “Korea is the only country where GM operates its own direct service facility — and this is our largest in the world.”
The center, which opened in July 2024, spans 26,252 square meters across 11 floors (three underground and eight above ground) — more than double the size of its previous facility. It is equipped with 62 service bays and parking for 180 vehicles, capable of servicing up to 100 cars per day.
A New Standard for Customer Experience
The center features a drive-through ‘service lane’, allowing customers to request vehicle servicing from their cars, reducing check-in times from 10 minutes to just 2 minutes. The service staff are seasoned professionals with over 15 years of experience, and the facility provides a one-stop experience for maintenance, product consultation, and even vehicle purchases.
“I’ve worked in the U.S., Dubai, and Mexico, but never have I seen such direct engagement with customers as here,” Henry noted. “We’re building strategy and innovation by listening to them firsthand.”
Yoon Myung-ok, GM Korea’s head of communications, added, “This building represents GM’s customer-centered philosophy. Visiting a service center may be inconvenient, but when customers leave here, we want them to feel GM truly cares for them.”
GM Korea ranked first in both the Domestic Car Dealership and After-Sales Service (A/S) categories in the 2023 Korea Service Quality Index (KSQI) customer contact point survey, organized by the Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC).
The photo shows Yoon Myung-ok, Executive Vice President of Communications at GM Korea, William Henry, Senior Vice President of International After-Sales Operations at GM, and other officials posing for a commemorative photo at GM Korea’s Bupyeong headquarters in Incheon. (Image courtesy of GM Korea)
Reaffirming GM’s Commitment Amid Market Concerns
The unveiling also comes amid speculation about GM Korea’s future, triggered by concerns over potential U.S. auto tariffs under the Trump administration, fueling talk of a possible GM exit from Korea.
However, Yoon dismissed such speculation, stating, “It’s understandable that people might misinterpret the situation, but that is absolutely not the case.”
Henry, when asked about the importance of the Korean market to GM, responded, “Whether today or in the future, our focus remains on meeting customer needs.”
Executive Delegation Visits GM Headquarters
Meanwhile, GM Korea President Hector Villarreal, along with labor and management leaders, departed for the United States last week. The delegation visited GM’s Detroit plant and met with the United Auto Workers (UAW) on March 17 (local time).
On March 19, they are scheduled to meet with Shilpan Amin, GM’s President of International Operations, and Mike Perez, GM North America’s head of production and labor relations, at GM’s global headquarters.
The opening of the world’s largest GM-operated service center in Seoul signals the company’s intent to deepen its presence in Korea, even as global market dynamics evolve.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
