in the late 1970s, and established a North American distribution office in California in 1984. In 1975 the arrangement ended when Young Chang decided to expand domestically and internationally under its own brand name, thus becoming a competitor. As time went by, Young Chang built more of the components, to the point where they were making virtually the entire piano. This arrangement reduced high import duties. Yamaha shipped partially completed pianos from Japan to the Young Chang factory in Incheon, South Korea, where Young Chang would perform final assembly work such as cabinet assembly, stringing, and action installation. In 1964 Yamaha and Young Chang entered into an agreement in which Yamaha helped Young Chang set up a full-fledged manufacturing operation. In 1962 the brothers incorporated as Young Chang Akki Co., Ltd. But the prospects were bright for economic development, and as a symbol of cultural refinement the piano was much coveted. Korea was recovering from a devastating war, and only the wealthy could afford pianos.

In 1956, three brothers - Jai-Young, Jai-Chang, and Jai-Sup Kim - founded Young Chang and began selling Yamaha pianos in Korea under an agreement with that Japanese firm. Pianos made by: Young Chang Co., Ltd., Incheon, South Korea and Tianjin, China

Young chang baby grand piano made in