Doing Business: the Korean Way Korean Business Culture & Language Hae-Sung Jeon(HJeon1@uclan.ac.uk) Lecturer in Korean Language & Cultural Studies
안녕하세요 Shebudong, Ulsan, photo by ShaileshDixit
Contents Korea at glance Korean (Business) Culture Useful Korean Phrases
South Korea Capital: Seoul Population: 50 million Official language: Korean Currency: Won (KRW, ) Time zone: GMT +9 (No Daylight Saving Time)
Stereotypes?
Lewis, R. D. (2006) When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures, 3 rd edition.new York, London Nicholas Brealey Publishing. cited at: http://www.businessinsider.com/communication-chartsaround-the-world-2014-3
Lewis, R. D. (2006) When Cultures Collide: Leading Across Cultures, 3 rd edition.new York, London Nicholas Brealey Publishing. cited at: http://www.businessinsider.com/communication-chartsaround-the-world-2014-3
Addressing people Mr. / Mrs. (may be pronounced as misses)/ Miss /Ms. Surnames not as diverse as in the UK Kim, Park, Lee, Jeong, Choi, Addressing people by first name less common Korean tend to use surname followed by title
Korean Business Culture: Overview Fast changes in South Korea, particularly around Seoul Cutting-edge technology, globalisationand Confucius tradition co-exist Business partners with international experience Expect UK-like professionalism Small local partners may be more stereotypically Korean Or, the mixture No straightforward rules, but generally quick but polite
First Meeting A bow with 안녕하세요, hello an-nyeong-ha-se-yo 반갑습니다, nice to meet you pan-kap-seum-ni-da
저는 입니다, I m Jeo-neun im-ni-da 영국사람입니다, I m British Young-kuk-sa-ram-im-ni-da 감사합니다, Thank you. Kam-sa-ham-ni-da
Shaking hands is common. exchange of business cards use both hands if possible when presenting and receiving something. Alternatively, use your right hand and support your right elbow with your left hand. Clarify one s title ( status and rank)
미안합니다, I m sorry. Mi-an-ham-ni-da 안녕히계세요. Good-bye (to someone staying) An-nyeong-hee-gye-se-yo 안녕히가세요. Good-bye (to someone leaving) An-nyeong-hee-ga-se-yo
Business Meeting Korean offices tend to operate with very busy schedule (particularly executives) make an appointment a few weeks in advance Punctuality is important Gift-giving is common practice Send written materials -marketing materials, agenda, etc- in writing beforehand
Business Meeting Decision-making process: not free from bureaucracy and hierarchy Disagreement might be shown tentatively
Business Relationship Keeping good relationship is considered important Gifts common for national holidays such as Chuseok(Korean Thanksgiving), (Lunar) New Year, and Christmas Long-term commitment acknowledged and appreciated
Socialising: Table Manners Watch location of rice bowl, soup bowl, spoon and chopsticks Food may be served to young people first; but you must wait until the senior person is served If you eat with people much older than you are, you must not begin to eat until they start It s common to share food from the same plate (but you can ask for side plate) Do not stir food with chopsticks Do not lift rice bowl from table (it s customary in Japan but not in Korea) Korean eat rice with spoon Do not stick your chopsticks to the right angle in rice bowl 17
네Yes / 아니요no ne / a-nee-yo Thank you for the meal. 잘먹겠습니다.(before the meal) Jal-meok-ket-seum-ni-da 잘먹었습니다.(after the meal) Jal-meok-eot-seum-ni-da
소주 (soju)
폭탄주 Phok-than-ju (Bomb-drink) PSY - HANGOVER feat. Snoop Dogg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmnolycphg
Korean Phrases Yes ne No a-ni-yo Hello an-nyeong-ha-se-yo Thank you. Kam-sa-ham-ni-da Thank you for the meal (before the meal) Jal-meok-ket-seum-ni-da Thank you for the meal (after the meal) Jal-meok-eot-seum-ni-da
ANY QUESTIONS?
Rapeseed blossom, Jeju, photo by Eric Hevesy www.flickr.com/erichevesy