Wednesday 15 May 2013
Tuesday 14 May 2013
Conducting Business
Business Card
- When having a meeting, the Korean is essential to bring business card along with them.
- The business cards are presented to the counterpart after having a small bows/handshake & it is vital for initiating introduction.
- Korean’s prefer to know more about the person they dealing with so it is important to emphasize your title so that the right rank, authority & status are established.
- When giving/receiving the card, the card should be presented/accepted by using both hands.
- After receiving the card, it is closely studied with respect & considerate. All business card received are placed on table during meeting.
- If there are more than 1 card, they should be placed vertical line on the table so all the cards are visible. After meeting all card are placed in pocket.
- Gift-giving are part of the business culture which is also a common practice within the Korean business setting & not considered bribery.
- Normally gifts are given at the first business meeting & often used to build relationship which also considered as an ‘ icebreaker’.
- Always allow host to present his gift first & accept the gift with both hands to avoid loss of face.
- Gifts which have similar value should be exchanged & gifts of greater value should be given to the senior person respectively.
Meetings
- Appointments are required between the most suitable time which is normally 10am-12pm/2pm-4pm & should be made a few weeks in advance.
- Punctuality is essential as it is a sign of respect.
- Some Korean executive would arrive a few minutes late due to their extremely busy & pressured schedule.
- If counterparts realize they would be late, it is best to call ahead to say so.
Legal and Ethics
There are many
similarities between Korean and American legal system. For instance,
Constitution of Korea which was established in 1948 was, in some part,
influenced by the American legal system. Korean Constitution was amended
several times through political upheavals. This is one of the reasons students and lawyers nowadays are going to US to study.
The preceding
discussion of Korean business ethics is full of negative examples
and warnings that Koreans can be hard people to work with. Nevertheless, a lot
of foreign companies working in Korea have been extraordinarily successful. In
general, the business environment in Korea is good. Of the newly industrialized
countries of the Far East, Korea has the cheapest wages, well-educated work
force and a burning national desire to progress. A well-prepared foreign
business with open-minded personnel and high-demand products or services is
likely to succeed in Korea.
Non Verbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is important in the traditional Korean
culture.
- Eye contact between people of different gender, age, and social status are lack in Korean.
- Eye contact while speaking may only be reserved for people who they familiar with.
- Small talk may be viewed as pointless, but meaningful conversation highly valued.
- Facial expressions are not commonly used to convey emotion informal settings.
- Smiling / joking is traditionally only acceptable at certain times & smiling at inappropriate times may be interpreted as a lack of serious & respect. In the U.S., Koreans working in business / formal situations may adhere to these guidelines, but in general Koreans and Korean-Americans are more socially relaxed.
- Koreans mostly appreciated Eye contact & smiling as gestures of welcoming and friendship. Especially in the healthcare setting, it would be comfortable for a practitioner to engage in eye contact, small talk, and smiling with Korean patients.
- Overly familiar touch may not be well accepted by some Koreans.
- Touching strangers in crowds is seen as necessary, but physical expression of affection may not frequently demonstrated, even between family members.
- Traditionally, affectionate touch should be begun by the elder person and reciprocated by the younger person.
- Touching during the provision of health care is acceptable because it is required, but therapeutic touch may not expected.
- As with nonverbal communication among Koreans and Korean Americans, these more traditional views on familiar touch may not be demonstrated in the modern, more socially relaxed context that most Koreans in this country observe.
1)Slurping and burping at the table are seen as compliments and that you are satisfied with your meal
2)Spitting and blowing snot in public are also acceptable gestures as these behaviors are seen as cleaning yourself.
3) Two peace signs symbolize happiness and enjoyment
2)Spitting and blowing snot in public are also acceptable gestures as these behaviors are seen as cleaning yourself.
3) Two peace signs symbolize happiness and enjoyment
2) Before departing, the Korean businessmen also bow to show satisfactory. Posture is important, even while bowing. Bowing occurs from the waist, and not the neck. One bows by bending forward their upper body from the waist, standing straight with knees closed.
3) During meeting, Koreans always pass or receive documents with their right hand or both hands. The right hand has to be supported by the left.
4) Koreans avoid saying no as saying no seems impolite, even it requires saying yes while meaning no. While conducting business, if there was a situation they need to say no but cannot, they are likely to suddenly become vague and appear very uncomfortable to have been put in such an embarrassing position. They usually respond with 'it's very difficult' or 'i'll try to do it'.
5) During a business dinner, Koreans always wait to be seated after elders and people of importance as well as wait to pick up spoon to begin eating.Besides, they do not like to talk too much during dinner.
6) When Koreans are conducting business, they avoid touching of any kind and avoid direct eye contact as the Koreans see it as a challenge.
7) While meeting up with a customer, Korean businessman would show a limp hand, meaning to direct the customer to come over here (their position).
8) If the customer of a Korean businessman is requesting or demanding something the business do not offer, the businessman would crossed arm and making an X with his hands meaning no or they do not have it here.
9) In formal situations, the Korean businessman would requires clearly defined personal space.
10) Korean businessmen would not exaggerate their emotion through facial expression as too much smiling is always related with shallowness of the person.
Social Customs
Business Cards
- Exchange of business card play a main role in a
meeting.
- In Korea, the way you treat to the business card equals
to the way you treat to the person.
- Titles are very important to every business card by
using professional title or Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname.
(Korean names begin with a family name followed by a given name.)
Meetings
- Punctuality is highly valued for Korean and must
arriving on time for a meeting.
- Korean counterparts will expect to arrive earlier than
Korean business executive.
- Hierarchy is very important in Korean culture, the most
senior person always be the first to the enter the meetings room and
guiding conversation..
- Silence are considered acceptable when somebody is
presenting, avoid interrupting if possible.
Body Language
- In Korea, must bow when meeting with an elder.
- A junior should avoid eye contact with a senior
business people because it considered as impolite or as a challenge.
Dress
- Formal dress for men and women in Korean during
business.
- For men:
conservative, dark colouured suits with white shirts and conservative
ties.
- For women:
conservative business suits or dresses and blouses are appropriate.
- Jeans are not recommended.
Power distance
This dimension explores the extent to which the less
powerful members of organisations and institutions accept and expect that
power is distributed unequally. At last, it scored 60.
Individualism
South Korea scored 18 in the individualism dimension.
This is a very low score and indicative of a collectivist culture. A collectivist
culture places greater value on the achievements of the group as opposed to the
achievements of the individuals within a group. Speaking one’s mind and
confrontation are considered both rude and undesirable in such a culture.
Masculinity
For masculinity, this dimension indicates the degree to
which ‘masculine’ values such as competitiveness and the acquisition of wealth are valued
over 'feminine' values like relationship building and quality of life.
South Korea’s score of 39 is indicative of a relatively ‘feminine’ culture. This
reflects the emphasis that people place on cooperation and non-confrontational
behaviour.
Uncertainty avoidance
In such a culture,
an employee may fail to use his or her
own discretion in the event of an ethical dilemma (e.g. a
conflict of interest) or where there is no explicit ‘rule’ to direct their action.
This dimension indicates a society’s time perspective.
South Korea’s score of 71 is indicative of a culture that is long term oriented
i.e. emphasises perseverance, thriftiness and ordering relationships by
status and observing this order.
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