South Korea

Jacob Kromhout

Seoul

Language and Religion

Buddhism 22%

Christianity 29%

Atheism 46%

Korean

Attraction One• Jeju Island is one of South

Korea’s nine provines. Jeju is South Korea’s largest island, and it is a large tourist attraction to honeymoon couples.

Attraction Two• Haeundae Beach is a popular

tourist attraction, and it is a beautiful beach on the southeast side of the city Busan.

Korean Cuisine Baechu Kimchi

Cabbage and Fish

Juk

Boiled Grain with Various Ingredients

Stereotypes Koreans love Americans

Korea is polluted

The country is packed with people

Koreans fear North Koreans

Most are Buddhist

Koreans are small and frail

Women are submissive

Koreans are always studious

China and Japan dominate Korea

Koreans are the Irish of Asia

Superstitions

Deoksugung Path – Couples will not take a walk along this path because it is said that they will break up.

Test Taking – Avoid slippery foods such as seaweed soup or noodles before an exam.

Hand Gestures Facing an elder while

doing a shot is considered disrespectful. One must turn their head or back away before taking the shot.

Touching an elder on the shoulder or head is seen as down-grading, impolite and disrespectful. Children are the only ones whom it is alright to touch on the head and/or shoulders.

Etiquette and Body Language

Be introduced by a third party rather than introducing yourself

Exchange business cards and ensure to establish title, position and rank

Use both hands if possible to present business card

Place the business card in front of you on the table

Relationship BuildingAlways be on time, and make sure to schedule

in advanced.

If someone is late, do not show anger or frustration

The senior member of your delegation should always enter the room first

It is custom to get to know someone before doing business because personal relationships are usually more important

Communication StylesSaying ‘no’ is poor etiquette

‘We will try’ may be the way no is expressed

‘Yes’ may just mean ‘I have heard you’

Maintain good body posture in all conversations

Power StructuresThe senior member of the group or delegation

makes all final decisions

Whatever the manager or leader says is expected to be done

In return for this obedience, the manager will be supportive and helpful at all times

Body LanguageAmerica

Introduce yourself and shake with one hand firmly, no bow.

Title is not as important when introducing.

Business cards usually go in portfolio, pocket, or wallet.

Korea

Have a third party introduce you, shake with both hands, sometimes there will be a bow.

Ensure the person knows your title and rank.

If the business card is not put on the table, it is considered disrespectful.

Communication StylesAmerica

Much more up front and impolite about saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’

People do not care about your personal life and want to get to the point.

Korea

Will often hide the truth or say it in an around the bush kind of way.

Value relationships more than business and may spend the first one or two business meetings getting to know the person or people.

Power StructuresAmerica

More open to opinions and negotiations.

Speaking out is considered disrespectful, but the head of the group is more than likely more open to listening to an opinion.

Korea

Whatever the head of the team or group says goes.

Speaking out or over the leader is considered disrespectful.

Social NetworkingThe internet penetration rate in Korea is 82.7%

Korea is 17th of the highest internet penetration in the world.

Cyworld was the Facebook of Korea, and it was shut down this past year.

Twitter is the other popular social media.

Power Distance IndexNo matter the State, there is always a PDI.

The PDI rating in Korea is a sixty which is slightly hierarchal.

The people accept where they are in the world and do not push the order of power.

IndividualismSouth Korea is a collectivist country.

The people are organized groups which watch out for each other.

Everyone in the society takes part responsibility for everyone else.

MasculinityKorea scores very low on the masculine scale

meaning that they are not very driven on success or being the best.

Standing out from the crowd is not admired, and your quality of life is valued as most important rather than accumulating the most money.

Uncertainty AvoidanceKorea is one of the most uncertainty avoidance

countries in the world.

Rules must always be in place, and people always feel the need to be busy and work hard.

Security is an important element in individual motivation.

Power Distance IndexCompared to Korea, the United States empowers

individualism.

Even though everyone does have a place in society in America, we all believe that it is possible to come up from the bottom and advance yourself to the top with hard work and grit.

People try to advance themselves rather help the group.

IndividualismIn America, there is no responsibility to watch

out for anyone other than his or her own family.

Korea feels the need to support each other; whereas, America is all about advancing themselves in order to achieve more individually.

MasculinityKoreans are not driven by standing out amongst

the group or advancing themselves for their own advantage.

Americans must stand out amongst the crowd in order to advance themselves in the business world and accumulate more wealth.

Uncertainty AvoidanceAmerica is much more accepting of new ideas

than Korea and does not need such a structured society.

Many Americans believe that breaking the rules set by society is necessary in order to stand out or make a name for his or herself.

Koreans frown upon standing out and breaking any rules.

Current EventsSouth Korea placed second in medal count in the

Incheon Asian Olympics

South Korea beat North Korea in soccer in the last few minutes of the game

Tensions between North and South Korea are high, like normal

Ultimate Fighting plans its first fights in South Korea

North Korean leaders visit South Korea

Citations Cassels, J. (2011, December 11). Top 10 Misconceptions About South

Korea - Listverse. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://listverse.com/2011/12/20/top-10-misconceptions-about-south-korea/

THE HOFSTEDE CENTRE. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://geert-hofstede.com/south-korea.html

Lee, K. (n.d.). 20 Cultural Mistakes to Avoid in Korea. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://seoulistic.com/korean-culture/20-cultural-mistakes-to-avoid-in-korea/

The World Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2014, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html