The New York ad agency Bozell, Jacobs,...

The New York ad agency Bozell, Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt announced that it plans to form a joint venture agency with South Korea’s largest ad firm, Korea First Advertising, by year-end.

Korea First, which has headquarters in Seoul, posted billings last year of $200 million.

At the same time, Bozell International, the worldwide arm of Bozell, has been awarded the advertising business of Samsung Group, one of South Korea’s largest business conglomerates. Samsung operates one of the world’s largest color television picture tube manufacturing plants.

The moves are an attempt by Bozell to strengthen its presence in the Pacific Basin. Last year, its Los Angeles office set up a new division to specifically seek more business in the area.