Situation
This report was created to give the employees of XYZ Corporation information to form a decision about going to South Korea. This report will give information on these three topics.
• The Hofstede's Value dimensions and how we can gain insight to our host country
• The current ethics of business
• The basics in family life
Background
The Republic of Korea or as commonly called South Korea was a vassal state to Japan until 1945. After World War II South Korea became a democratic state. North Korea became a communist republic. After the armistice, North and South Korea were split along the 38th parallel. Since that time South Korea has become one of the fastest growing economies. It has gone from being a third world Gross
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It is not unusual to carry a travel toothbrush with you to brush after every meal. Going to the spa is like going to the mall, a group activity with a snack bar. The South Koreans are particular about their skin care regime. There are new and innovative products every month. Even men use BB cream (blemish balm).
The Gift
The gift is an essential part of South Korean business. As with business cards give and receive gifts with both hands. Do not open the gift in sight of the giver. There should be a polite resistance to giving or receiving a gift. This is part of the culture so be polite. When you give gifts start with things with the company logo on them, but make sure not to give anything produced in Korea or Japan. (Terri Morrison).
The Dinner and Drinks
After work is over be prepared to go to dinner. As part of etiquette do not take the last bite of a dish and leave some on your plate. Cleaning your plate is in bad taste. Meals are usually served family style. (Frances Cha) Also be prepared to drink, most South Korean businesses have hoesik (dinner with coworkers usually involving multiple rounds at different venues) at least once a month. When your boss offers you a drink it means that they want to listen to you. Never have an empty glass. Wait until the senior person has a drink before you drink yours. Always hold bottles or shot glassed with both hands unless you have been ranked as the senior person. Do not refuse a drink. It is considered rude.
Before 1945 Korea was controlled by Japan. After the second World War, USA and Soviet Union split Korea in t two. This cause the divide in the country and another divide in the ideals. USA was preaching capitalism and democracy. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was looking to spread communism. North Korea invaded South Korea to try to form a stable, united Korea as it was before the end of the Second World War. USA acted decisively to defend the South to stop the threat of communism and to continue their policy of containment. They did not want communism to spread.
South Korea was supported by United States with money and army, while North Korea was supported by Soviet Union and China. Just after the World War II ended Korea get independence from Japan and it was such a happy day for them, but the happiness did not last long. Trouble began when capitalism and socialism invade the country. United States and Soviet Union decided that Korea should be divided in two and the war began the day North Korea attacked South Korea. Still Korea is
In 1950, South Korea developed its economy and was greatly influenced by the United States of America. While North Korea followed the path of communism, South Korea discovered a better path of developing their nation and becoming more unified as a family. The surrender of Japan to the allies at the end of World War II was the catalyst in the split of Korea. North Korea then attempted to conquer the Korean peninsula by force (Armstrong). South Korea focused on intensifying their nationalism such as developing their own culture and the unity of factions. Additionally, South Korea focused on improving the efficiency of its government system as it selected a new designated leader and received support and funding from their
Korea was once a colony of Japan but the many years of Koreans suffering through the colonial rule ended after the defeat of Japan by Russia and the US. They each took a part of Korea, the Soviet Union occupied the
After the war, both Koreas moved quickly to rebuild and modernize. North Korea, which was more industrialized than South Korea before the war, rebuilt quicker. Unfortunately, North Korea’s economy suffered, because of the break-up with the Soviet Union. Eventually South Korea evolved into a industrial society, who became a heavy exporter to the United States. Overall after the war both Koreas have been successful, but still face the challenge of
I learned about the way they sit when I went on a trip to Korea and it was very weird to see, and very hard to sit there to the way they're accustomed too. When we went out for dinner in Korea we went to a well known restaurant with a table right in front of you there were no chairs. First, you
Under Yi Sŏng-Gye’s son King Sejong, considered Korea’s greatest ruler, inventions like the rain gauge, the use of a movable type, and the birth of Korean alphabet called Hangeul, still in use today, surfaced. (Piddock, 27-28) They ruled the entire peninsula for 500 years. Then Korea was annexed by neighbors Japan in 1910. Korea continued to be under Japan until 1945 when it was liberated at the end of World War II. (“North Korea”, Culturegrams) “With the defeat of Japan in 1945, the Allies agreed to divide the Korean Peninsula between the Soviet Union and the United States at the thirty-eighth parallel as a temporary measure.” (Piddock, 30) The Soviet Union received the Northern part of Korea, and the United States the South. “.. Soviet forces closed off northern Korea at the thirty-eighth parallel and placed Korean communists in power there.” Evidently, North Korea was bound to turn communist.
Visiting Korea, however, can also be baffling at times, mainly because I’ve long forgotten some of the cultural nuances. Years ago, for instance, while saying “hello,” I made a gesture of a slight bow to an older family friend. The problem was that I forgot to take my hat off (this is acceptable among peers but not when bowing to elders). Thankfully, no one gave me an icy stare. On another occasion, my uncle tried to hold my hand in public. In that instant, I became nauseated. Before he tried to grab my hand I quickly escaped into a convenience store while mumbling something about how thirsty I
In South Korea like any other nation, Religion is a very delicate area that needs to be considered before embarking on business opportunities in that nation. Because of the sensitive nature that Religion brings to business, when considering a country to do business in, one must tread lightly, being careful not to infringe on a group of peoples Religious rights. As it relates to South Korea, it is made up of various Religious groups, and there is a little over 65% of the population of the Republic of Korea that are members of an organized religion.
Thesis Statement: Though South Korea may be a small country, the style of cuisine, community culture, and generosity are just a few uniquenesses that outshine its stature.
North Korea (officially named the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) is a single-party Communist state in south-east Asia, ruled since 1949 by the Korean Workers' Party (KWP). Regarded by many in the international community as a pariah state (meaning that it is an outcast), North Korea has in recent years become increasingly poverty-stricken, with many of its citizens having barely enough food to survive.
South Koreans have certain etiquettes and manners that are highly esteemed in their culture. Like Japan and China, the bow is the main custom of greeting someone. It is not only a form of greeting, but it is also a sign of respect that an individual is showing to the other. Entitlement is important in South Korea, especially when you are
I think, experience of staying abroad for long time in Norway will help me to overcome the cultural difference while I will live in Korea. I would like to share my previous experience staying
Manners represent an individual by the way they dress, behave, communicate, and their etiquette, while customs refer to the traditional way that a culture is practice individually, or by a group of people. Workers are expected to bow to their seniors when they greet them, and to use only formal language to their seniors, as it is rude to speak informally to someone of higher rank. In Korean businesses, meetings are often held in evenings at a restaurant or bar. Drinking is part of the Korean culture, as Koreans believe that drinking helps to bond colleagues in the company, and an offered drink must never be refused as it is considered to be rude. Along with drinking, Karaoke is a popular activity after meetings. People who attend the meeting are usually expected to sing a solo song.
South Korean love their country very much that they tend to buy national made products than foreign products. For example, a Germany brand called MCM able to regain their status after been taken over by South Korean company after it went bankrupt in 2005. They prefer Samsung over iPhone, LG over Philips, Hyundai over imported cars.