Kim and his colleagues at LG run one of the most cost-conscious manufacturing operations in Asia. And Kim is trouncing competitors at home and abroad. Sure, LG is trailing local rival Samsung Electronics Co. in cell phones, PCs, and flat-panel TVs. But not in white goods. LG has come from nowhere to rank among the top five in the global home-appliance industry. In air conditioners, LG is No. 1 in 41 countries. Kim's division took in revenues of $5.6 billion last year, more than double its 1998 sales of $2.7 billion. The unit now contributes over half of LG Electronics' profits. Kim's new target: to rise to global No. 3 by 2005, behind Whirlpool Corp. and Electrolux.