Both Silent Power and OneRoof count Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group as an investor.

FORBES: Startup OneRoof Energy Secures $100M Fund For Solar Homes

Perhaps the strongest indication that times may be changing involves Kim Seung-youn, chairman of the Hanwha group.

ECONOMIST: Presidential politics in South Korea

So far, private-equity firm MBK Partners along with Hanwha Life Insurance Co.

WSJ: Korea Is Primed for M&A Deals

In August 2008 Kim Seung-youn, head of the Hanwha conglomerate, was pardoned.

ECONOMIST: Freeing fat-cat felons creates moral hazard, Koreans fear

If Hanwha buys ING's operations, that would narrow Samsung's lead, and if Kyobo wins, it would overtake Hanwha to become Korea's second-biggest life insurer.

WSJ: Potential Buyers Emerge for ING's Korean Life Arm

On February 3rd Hanwha Group announced in a regulatory filing that its chairman, Kim Seung-yeon, was among several officials being investigated for alleged embezzlement.

ECONOMIST: The Korea discount: Minority report | The

Hanwha Solarone (HSOL) and Suntech Power (STP) are case in point.

FORBES: Top Value Picks In The BRICs For Thanksgiving Week

"Exports improved even though the yen was depreciating, suggesting that there hasn't been any major impact on growth yet, " said Kong Dong-Pak, an analyst at Hanwha Securities.

BBC: South Korea economic growth hits two-year high

Igawa is back pitching (not all that well) in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes, DeSalvo pitched in 2012 with the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, Wright pitched in 2012 for the Independent Somerset Patriots and Henn is currently at Triple-A with the Mets after pitching in 2012 with the Hanwha Eagles in Korea.

WSJ: The Count: The St. Louis Cardinals' Baby Birds Are Ferocious��Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller, Tyler Lyons