MURRAY, KY—South Korean auto parts manufacturer DAE-IL broke ground on its new manufacturing plant here last week. It will be the company’s first plant in the United States and create 120 jobs.

DAE-IL USA won’t be the first manufacturing plant to come into Murray. German manufacturer Iwis recently opened a plant as well.

Construction on the DAE-IL will be completed in a little over a year. Murray Economic Development President Mark Manning says he thinks the DAE-IL plant will be one of many to come. Manning says the city has all the right tools to attract outside businesses.

“Murray has great school systems, we have the university, our housing prices are very reasonable and we’re in a central location,” notes Manning.

Murray Mayor Jack Rose says it’s more than the schools and local businesses that attract companies; it’s the people. “The thing I think impressed the South Koreans was our culture and how everyone was friendly,” says Rose.