Doing Business in Korea

7/21/2019 Doing Business in Korea

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Influence of Korean culture

on business practice

Nicoleta Iacob

AISI anul II


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1. Introduction

2. Table manner

3. Punctuality

4. Gift Giving5. Gender behavior

6. u!er"tition

#. $eligion

%. &ibliogra!hy


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1. Introduction

International bu"ine"" deal" not only cro"" border"' they al"o cro"" culture". (ulture

!rofoundly influence" ho) !eo!le thin*' communicate' and behave. It al"o affect" the *ind" of

tran"action" they ma*e and the )ay they negotiate them. +ifference" in culture bet)een bu"ine""

e,ecutive" can create barrier" that im!ede or com!letely "tymie the negotiating !roce"". The

increa"ing interde!endence bet)een nation"' bu"ine""e" and !eo!le ha" brought the im!ortance

of national culture" to the forefront. -or the international bu"ine"" !er"on' doing bu"ine"" in

foreign countrie" bring" )ith it cro"" cultural challenge". n under"tanding of a country/"

bu"ine"" culture' attitude" and eti0uette i" a u"eful )ay of e"tabli"hing good inter!er"onal

relation"hi!" )hich ea"e the bu"ine"" !roce"".

outh orea ha" to be cla""ed a" one of the )orld" great economic "ucce"" "torie". long

)ith Tai)an' outh orea i" the only country )hich ha" recorded five con"ecutive decade" of

economic gro)th in e,ce"" of 5. Thi" i" an amaing achievement )hich i" the re"ult of careful

governmental macroengineering' "ound bu"ine"" !ractice and "heer hard )or* from the

!o!ulation at large. conomi"t" feel that' given the lengthy "tagflation "een in 7a!an' that it )ill

not be too long before outh orean level" of !ro"!erity are at a !ar )ith 7a!an . &oth outh

orea and 7a!an are inten"ely conformi"t "ocietie" 8one of the many "imilaritie" bet)een the t)o

countrie"9 but they differ in one fundamental thing. :hen faced )ith hard"hi! or adver"ity the

7a!ane"e tend to turn in)ard" and bac*)ard" to)ard" the familiar and comfortable )herea" the

outh orean" are ab"olute ma"ter" of change and rebuild. If thing" arent )or*ing' they ;u"t

change them and they have !roved ade!t at doing thi" very 0uic*ly and very effectively < you

only need to loo* at the contra"ting reaction" to the cri"i" that hit "ia in the 1==>". 7a!an i"'

arguably' "till recovering )hile outh orea ha" long been in rude health.

outh orea ha" al"o reinvented it"elf a" the cultural e!icentre of "ian culture. orean !o!

mu"ic' or !o!' ha" been e,!orted )ith great "ucce"" all over the continent and orean T?

drama" are )atched from To*yo to &ei;ing. outh orean film" are the enormou"ly !o!ular

throughout "ia 8)ith the e,ce!tion of India9 and the level of orea" cultural influence

continue" to gro). Thi" i" not to "ay that outh orea doe"nt face "ignificant challenge". The

ine,orable ri"e of (hina and the !olitical' cultural and military influence that come" in it" )a*e

i" "omething all "ian countrie" )re"tle )ith. The !olitician" in eoul have the ever!re"ent


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dilemma of ho) to deal )ith hardline communi"t North orea. In addition' outh orea face"

increa"ing com!etition from lo)er )age com!etitor" in the region and )ill need to dra) on all

it" re"erve" of fle,ibility and tenacity to "tay ahead of the game.

2. Table manners

outh orean" !ractice "ome 0uite intere"ting dining eti0uette. It i" one of the traditional

cho!"tic* culture". Pro!er conduct )hen u"ing the cho!"tic*" i" very im!ortant if you )ould li*e

to !re"ent a good image to the orean". It i" con"ider a rude behaviour to !oint )ith your

cho!"tic*" )hen you are tal*ing or trying to !oint at "omething or "omebody. o' remember to

!ut do)n your cho!"tic*" if you )ould li*e to tal* )ith your hand motion". +o not leave your

cho!"tic*" "tic*ing out of the rice bo)l. Thi" i" a taboo' a" they !racti"e thi" in a funeral ritual.

l)ay" u"e cho!"tic*" )hen !ic*ing u! the food. void u"ing your bare hand" ho)ever more

convenient that )ill be. It i" alright to a"* for a for* if you are "truggling )ith the metal and flat

"ha!ed cho!"tic*". void ma*ing noi"e" )ith "!oon or cho!"tic*" li*e hitting the rice bo)l or

other food container". Thi" i" con"idered a" rude behaviour. void leaving anything on your

!late. @ou can indicate that you are full by *ee!ing your cho!"tic*" re"ting on the table.

A!on arrival to re"taurant

A!on arrival at dinner table' it i" be"t to )ait till you are told )here to "it. orean follo)"

"ome rule" regarding )ho "hould "it )here. void committing an ignorant mi"ta*e by hel!ing

your"elf to an em!ty "eat be"ide a !retty lady. The "eat farthe"t a)ay from the entrance door i"

con"idered the be"t "!ot. Therefore it i" be"t to re"erve it for the im!ortant cu"tomer"' bo""e" or

elderly.

:hile dining

orean" are very re"!ectful of the elder". It i" con"idered a re"!ectful act for the younger

generation to )ait for the elde"t !er"on or the "enior manager to eat fir"t. void hel!ing your"elf

)ith your food a" "oon a" it arrive" on the table' no matter ho) hungry you may be. :ait for the

elder" to hold their "!oon before you ta*e your"' and *ee! !ace )ith them. :hen "itting' "it )ith

your body in an u!right' "traight !o"ition. +o not hunch your bac*. orean often "ay no )hen


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being offer food to eat' even )hen he )i"he" to ta*e more of the food. fter the fir"t hel!ing'

their eti0uette e,!ect" the fir"t offer of the "econd hel!ing to be refu"ed. The orean" )ill then

in"i"t that you ta*e the "econd hel!ing' it i" then con"idered alright to acce!t it. Bf cour"e' you

can !olitely decline )hen you are full. tart the meal by ta"ting the "ou!' follo) by trying the

rice or other di"he". Plea"e u"e the "!oon for rice and li0uid food"' "uch a" "te)" or "ou!". A"e

the cho!"tic*" for other food". void holding the rice bo)l or "ou! bo)l in your hand during the

meal. $ice and "ou! bo)l "hould al)ay" be on the table. void !o*ing around the rice or "ide

di"he" )ith the "!oon or cho!"tic*". If you di"li*e certain food in the di"h' you dont have to try

them. Co)ever' do not !ic* out )hat you don/t li*e or remove the "ea"oning". void having

trace" of food "tic*ing onto the "!oon or cho!"tic*" )hile eating. +uring the meal' inedible !art"

"uch a" bone" "hould be 0uietly di"carded by )ra!!ing them in a ti""ue !a!er before !lacing it

on the table "o that other" )on/t "ee them. +o not !ut the di"carded food )ithout )ra!!ing on the

table or floor. If you have to cough or "neee )hile having a meal' face to the other direction

)here there are no !eo!le facing you' a)ay from the !er"on "itting in front of you or be"ide you.

(over your mouth )ith your hand or na!*in before you cough or "neee. ide di"he" are

!re"ented for each "ection of the table. at the rice and "ide di"he" from only one "ide of the

table belonging to your "ectionD do not cro"" to other "ide of the table for more "erving". If you

need more "ide di"he"' you can a"* for free refill. It i" con"idered im!olite to u"e your hand" to

!ic* u! the food" and !ut into your mouth. l)ay" u"e the cho!"tic*" and "!oon. +o not reach

acro"" the table for di"tant food. Plea"e a"* a nearby !er"on to !a"" it to you. :hen che)ing

food' che) "ilently )ith your mouth clo"ed and do not ma*e any noi"e )hile che)ing. void

leaving the table )hile eating unle"" you really need to go to the )a"hroom. To conclude the

meal' orean" li*e to con"ume"ungnyung' a traditional orean beverage made from boiled

"corched rice. The common !ractice i" to !our "ungnyung into the rice bo)l and drin*. If you do

not li*e the ta"te' you can drin* "ome and leave it a"ide. :hen u"ing a tooth!ic*' cover your

mouth )ith one hand and di"card the tooth!ic* )hen you are done' and !lace it under a na!*in

"o that it i" invi"ible to other". t the end of the meal' )hen the "enior" or cu"tomer" are getting

u!' you "hould get u! together.


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:hen you dine at "omeone" home ma*e "ure you remove your "hoe". @ou )ill !robably "it

at a table or' more traditionally' on the floor in the middle of the room. llo) the more "enior

member" of your !arty to enter room" ahead of you.

3. Punctuality

Bne of the mo"t im!ortant eti0uette in outh orea i" !unctuality. Ea*e "ure that you )ill go

to the meeting right on the time "et and if ever you )ill be late for the meeting' give them a call

!rior to the time of meeting. It i" al"o nece""ary that you )ould boo* for any meeting" in

advance li*e a )ee* or "o to en"ure that your a!!ointment )ill be "et accordingly. orean"

e,!ect :e"terner" to be !unctual for bu"ine"" and "ocial occa"ion". Bn the other "ide' foreigner"

"hould !re!are to )ait becau"e orean e,ecutive" bu"y "chedule" a" )ell a" heavy traffic may

ma*e them u! to a halfhour late for bu"ine"" meeting. -or "ocial occa"ion" many orean"

follo) Forean time' )hich mean" they arrive u! to a halfhour late. Forean time de"cribe"

the )ide"!read tardine"" or' more "!ecifically' the rela,ed attitude )ith )hich orean" a!!roach

a!!ointment time".

4. Gift giving

Giving gift" i" included in the li"t of eti0uette in orean bu"ine"". It i" a )ay of "ecuring

favor" bet)een the bu"ine"" relation"hi!" and can hel! in building it" foundation. !art of the

!ractice i" e,changing gift" )ith your colleague' ma*ing it a mu"t to bring "omething reci!rocate

the gift once one i" given to you. @ou can choo"e to !lace a logo of your bu"ine"" in the ca"e of

!ac*age or the gift and add "ome touche" of craft"man"hi! and beauty along )ith it. :henever a

gift i" given' it i" nece""ary that you )ill offer "ome re"i"tance unle"" the giver offer" it again for

the "econd time. It i" al"o "ho)ing a form of re"!ect if you )ill not o!en the gift in front of the

giver unle"" you )ould a"* them if they li*e you to do "o.

The e,change of gift" i" an im!ortant !art of orean life' clo"ely lin*ed to "ho)ing re"!ect'

*ee!ing good *ibun 8mood or feeling of being in a comfortable "tate of mind9' and being

courteou". gift of fruit' flo)er"' )ine or li0uor "hould be ta*en )henever you vi"it "omeone"

home. :hen vi"iting the home of a orean family' a "mall gift for !re"chool children' if there


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are any in the home' and one for the mo"t elderly !er"on' a grand!arent for in"tance' )ould al"o

be con"idered courteou".

&u"ine"" gift" are "till common in orean "ociety and are often !re"ented at the fir"t meeting.

The mo"t e,!en"iveHhighe"t value gift "hould be given to the !er"on of highe"t ran* )ith

colleague of e0ual ran* receiving a gift of "imilar value. Gift" have long been "een a" a mean" of

influencing 8bribing9 deci"ion ma*er". Co)ever' the intent of the gift at the fir"t bu"ine""

meeting i" to "et the foundation for the relation"hi! and i" often reci!rocal. The gift i" !re"ented

to the reci!ient )ith both hand" a" are mo"t item" handed over by or to a orean < even in the

office or at a "ho!. orean )ill u"ually a!ologie for the gift" in"ignificance' even )hen it i"

of high value. Gift" are never o!ened in front of the giver. In fact' vi"itor "ometime" 0uietly leave

a gift on a table for the ho"t to find later. Great ba"*et" of flo)er"' !lant" and blo""oming "hrub"

in !ot"' tied )ith colorful ribbon" on )hich congratulatory me""age" are )ritten in beautiful

calligra!hy' line the door)ay" of ne)lyo!ened "ho!" and at "!ecial ceremonie" or

!erformance". Note" of than*" do not follo). gift re!re"ent" your a!!reciation of a dinner or

other invitation"' and the ho"!itality you received i" the !lea"ure and honor of your ho"t.

Traditional orean gift" for a family that ha" ;u"t moved into a ne) hou"e are candle" and a large

bo, of matche" andHor laundry detergent. Thi" !ractice continue" today' regardle"" of the )ealth

of the reci!ient. -or the orean (hu"eo* holiday"' an a!!ro!riate gift )ould be fruit' )ine or

other food and drin*. Bn Ne) @ear"' children are given goodluc* money. It i" traditional for

orean bu"ine""men to give gift" to tho"e )ho have hel!ed them or to tho"e )ho may a""i"t

them in the future. In the latter ca"e' the"e gift" may carry a connotation of than*" in advance

for favorable con"ideration. Eany :e"tern com!anie" have rule" about the acce!tance of "uch

gift"' )hich are u"ually delivered by ;unior "taff member". ny "uch gift may be refu"ed or

returned but not )ithout great !rote"t" from the giverD gift giving i" a delicate matter that cannot

be ea"ily bru"hed a)ay. There i" con"iderable debate under)ay in orea "ociety today about

)hether gift giving i" a!!ro!riate in bu"ine"" and !olitic" a" thi" cultural tradition ha" beenabu"ed a" a form of corru!tion. The !ro!er gift brought by orean" to any family occa"ion i"

money. t )edding"' there i" a table !laced at the entrance )here each gue"t i" greeted and hi"

gift acce!ted and even recorded for either the groom" or the bride" "ide. Co)ever' many

:e"terner" feel uncomfortable )ith thi" cu"tom and even' many orean" feel more comfortable

buying hou"ehold item" "uch a" electrical a!!liance' gla""e"' cry"tal' etc. and leaving the


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!. "uperstitions

" one of it" national character trait"' orea i" a)a"h )ith "u!er"tition. Native "u!er"tition i"

a common anthro!ological"ociological feature in tribal "ocietie"' and orea ran*" rather high on

thi" "core. Indeed' orea" reliance on "u!er"tition i" 0uite "tri*ing. In "!ite of it" )orldcla""

advancement in technology and manufacturing' orea" !ro!en"ity for the "u!er"titiou"' the

"u!ernatural' or the !rimeval ha" fe) e0ual" in the )orld' and among the advanced nation"'

none. -rom "etting )edding date" to naming a ne)born' from "tarting a ne) bu"ine"" to ma*ing

a movie' orean" go through an elaborate ritual to a!!eal to the "u!er"titiou" oracle"' )hether it

i" fortuneteller"' "haman"' or diviner".

-an +eath

common orean "u!er"tition that ha" been !re"ent in outh orean culture for 0uite "ome )a"

after the invention of the electric fan. really random idea from a random !er"on thought that

having an electric fan running overnight in a clo"ed room 8door" and )indo)" "hut9 could *ill

you by either "uffocation or hy!othermia. Thi" !henomenon i" *no)n a" F-an +eath and it ha"

become "o !o!ular in the orean culture that com!anie" )ho ma*e fan" "tarted to incor!orate

timer" in the"e electric fan" "o that you can "et it to turn off by it"elf )hen you are a"lee!.

:hi"tling t Night

There )a" thi" common orean "u!er"tition that )hi"tling at night "hould be !rohibited in order

to *ee! the gho"t" and "na*e" out of the hou"ehold. lthough there i" no "ignificant "cientific

evidence to bac* thi" "u!er"tition u!' it" !robably ;u"t be"t to not )hi"tle at all "ince it deal"

)ith the "u!ernatural.

The number four

The number 48 9 in the "ino*orean numbering "y"tem i" !ronounced F"ah. Thi" orean

"u!er"tition i" derived from the fact that thi" !ronunciation "ound" "imilar to the (hine"e )ord

for F+eath. Euch li*e the number 13 in the )e"t' orean elevator" )ill "*i! the 4th floor. Thi"

"u!er"tition i" al"o !revalent in many other countrie" in "ia "uch a" (hina' 7a!an' inga!ore'

Ealay"ia' Tai)an' and ?ietnam.


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:riting Name" In $ed In*

It" bad luc* to )rite name" in red in*. The main rea"on i" that the name" of the decea"ed u"ed to

be )ritten in red. Therefore' if you )rite "omeone" name in red' youre giving that !er"on a

death )i"hJ @oure "afe )ith other )ord" in red' but ma*e "ure the name" "tay in "tandard blue or

blac* in*.

#. $eligion

orean" follo) a variety of religiou" idea" and organied religion". They al)ay" have

becau"e a" !ractical !eo!le' they have tried different )ay" to reach a fundamental orean idealD

a "en"e of harmony and balance in everything. The $e!ublic of orea/" flag re!re"ent" thi" ideal.

The central circle i" divided in t)o halve". The to! red !art i" yang' the !o"itive co"mic force

meaning fire' day' light' and all thing" con"tructive. The bottom blue half re!re"ent" the !a""ive

"ide of e,i"tence )ater' night' death and re!o"e. @et the t)o are ;oined !erfectly into a )hole.

The bar" in the four corner" of the flag are al"o about harmony and balance. The three line" on

the left "ide mean Kheaven.K The bro*en line" o!!o"ite it at the bottom right are Kearth.K The bar"

at the to! right' t)o bro*en and one "olid' mean K)ater'K )hile the line" o!!o"ite mean Kfire.K

ccording to thi" theory all life' and even the co"mo"' i" balanced in thi" )ay.

The olde"t religiou" idea" in orea are called hamani"m today. The"e are belief" that the

natural )orld i" filled )ith "!irit"' both hel!ful and harmful' that can be addre""ed by !eo!le

)ith "!ecial !o)er" called "haman". Cerbal medicine"' dance"' chant" and other ceremonie"

mar* the )or* of "haman"' mo"t of )hom are )omen. Though fe) !eo!le believe in the

religiou" idea" today' they do acce!t old idea" about the natural )orld and u"e many ancient

herbal remedie". (onfuciani"m !ermeate" the orean life. It influence" both the !er"onal live"


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and bu"ine"" )orld in a high e,tent. (onfuciani"m i" an ancient (hine"e )ay of thought that ha"

"!read through much of a"t "ia' and it i" often de"cribed a" a religion' )hich i" not com!letely

right. In general' (onfuciani"m influence" outh orean "ociety very much in many different

)ay"' "uch a" the "tatu"' "ocial contact"' relation"hi!" )ith other"' etc. -or e,am!le' orean

"tatu" i" determined by age' gender' education' family bac*ground' )ealth' occu!ation' and

!olitical ideology. ocial contact" determine "ucce"". Genealogy and bac*ground" are im!ortant

and determine ho) !eo!le are treated in the hierarchical "ociety. outh orean" tend to be very

friendly' and their culture ha" a "trong em!ha"i" on grou! tie". n individual i" e,!ected to

con"ider the benefit" and intere"t" for the )hole grou!Hcommunity )hich heH"he belong" to. The

orean "ociety' a" a collectivi"t "ociety li*e many other "ian countrie"' re0uire" !eo!le living in

a harmoniou" Ffamily. (on"i"tent )ith the conce!t of ibun' !eo!le are not "u!!o"ed to

embarra"" other" or cau"e other" lo"ing face in !ublic. Peo!le are e,!ected to avoid di"turbing

other" ibun by con"idering the Ffamily a" a )hole. In other )ord"' outh orean" are

generally more grou!oriented and collectivi"t. The im!act of thi" culture to outh orean

bu"ine"" manife"t" e"!ecially in deci"ion ma*ing and negotiation". A"ually' it ta*e" longer for

outh orean" to ma*e a final deci"ion' becau"e all of the member" need to con"ider other"

o!inion" and value". The deci"ion i" ba"ed on the careful con"ideration of the intere"t" of the

)hole team' and at the"ame time' maintaining the "table ibun environment. Therefore' )hen

negotiating )ith outh orean"' merican" or other :e"terner" "hould be a)are of thi" culture'

and be !atient during the negotiation !roce""' or be !re!ared that the negotiation !roce"" may

ta*e more than one meeting" to com!lete the deal". They "hould al"o a!!reciate the collectivi"m'

and thin* in term" of the good of the )hole team' to "ucce""fully negotiate bu"ine"" )ith

orean".


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&ibliogra!hy

1. ))).*orea.in"ight".co.*r

2. htt!LHH))).;im";ournal.orgH212>(hoong2>@.2>Mee.!df

3. htt!LHH)))."eoul"ync.comH

4. htt!LHH))).*oreatime".co.*rH
http://www.korea.insights.co.kr/http://www.jimsjournal.org/21%20Choong%20Y.%20Lee.pdfhttp://www.seoulsync.com/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/http://www.jimsjournal.org/21%20Choong%20Y.%20Lee.pdfhttp://www.seoulsync.com/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/http://www.korea.insights.co.kr/

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Doing Business in Korea