Wednesday, August 27, 2025

North Korea’s Leader, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and what it signals about the future of North Korea

North Korea’s Leader, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and what it signals about the future of North Korea




I’m excited to share some fantastic news. My contribution to The New York Times appeared in today’s U.S. print edition — with a two-page feature and even a front-page mention

The article explores the role of North Korea’s Leader, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and what it signals about the future of North Korea

You can read the full interactive feature here: 




 New York Times Article (http://redirect.medium.systems/r-mHBdwqrJ93?source=email-463f61e5afc2-1756297400026-newsletter.subscribeToProfile--90c76d3b212a-----------------------d555b293_2278_4a77_b329_4dc7ae82cb63--------317b96d4f928)




Being included in such a high-profile story is an honor, and once again, I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute my insights to a global audience.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work.

Warm regards,

Don 

Thursday, August 21, 2025

25 Insights from Korea Facing, “Secrets for Success in Korean Global Business”

 

25 Insights from  Korea Facing, “Secrets for Success in Korean Global Business”


BTW, I’ve opened up my calendar to make it easy to schedule time with me. Select a slot that works best for you here:  https://calendly.com/dsoutherton/30min

 

Executive Level One-on-One Korean Business Programs for 2025

Cost upon registration: $7,995    To Register https://buy.stripe.com/bJe3cwaZR7Ac4F6904bMQ08




Korea 101: 6-Week Intensive Course – Your Gateway to Korean Market Success

To Register   https://buy.stripe.com/14A14o1ph5s4efGa48bMQ07

Credit Cards are accepted, and once you’ve signed up, my team will connect with you directly to craft a schedule that fits. Your path to mastering Korean business begins the moment you enroll.

 

 

25 Quotes from Korea Facing

  1. Trust isn’t granted—it’s built, step by deliberate step, in Korean global teams.
  2. Western speed demands clarity; Korean patience demands respect.
  3. Effective leadership bridges cultures—learn the language of both trust and titles.
  4. Western urgency and Korean precision: only balance yields success.
  5. You don’t just deliver solutions to Korean teams—you earn collaboration.
  6. Decisions may originate in Seoul—but understanding makes them meaningful everywhere.
  7. When working with Korean expats, listen first—then act with cultural fluency.
  8. Managing expectations starts with understanding where they come from.
  9. Global partnerships thrive when Western flexibility meets Korean discipline.
  10. Trust is the quiet currency in all your cross-border exchanges.
  11. Communication isn’t just words—it’s showing you understand hierarchies and nuance.
  12. Expanding Korean firms abroad demands cultural intelligence as much as strategy.
  13. In Korean global business, the long game of trust often beats a short win.
  14. When in doubt, ask respectfully—assumptions erode partnerships.
  15. Your credibility abroad hinges on how well you navigate cultural expectations.
  16. Clear feedback should be firm—but also attuned to cultural face.
  17. Global teams win when they align mutual respect with shared ambition.
  18. Every interaction is calibrated—learn to read between the politeness and the point.
  19. Western teams can lead—but only after earning the right to lead, cross-culturally.
  20. Korean-headquartered companies expect two things: strategic outcomes and cultural awareness.
  21. In global expansions, respect for corporate roots goes as far as modern playbooks.
  22. Navigating a Korean overseas subsidiary? Master the art of upstream trust.
  23. Your Western instincts matter—but so does your willingness to adapt them.
  24. True cross-cultural leadership doesn’t erase differences—it learns from them.
  25. Collaborations succeed not when you conquer cultures, but when you converse with them.

###



 

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

25 Insights from Hyundai Way: Hyundai Speed, Third Edition

hyundai

Executive Level One-on-One Korean Business Programs for 2025

Cost upon registration: $7,995    To Register https://buy.stripe.com/bJe3cwaZR7Ac4F6904bMQ08



Korea 101: 6-Week Intensive Course – Your Gateway to Korean Market Success

To Register   https://buy.stripe.com/14A14o1ph5s4efGa48bMQ07


Credit Cards are accepted, and once you’ve signed up, my team will connect with you directly to craft a schedule that fits. Your path to mastering Korean business begins the moment you enroll.

 

25 Insights

1. At Hyundai, culture matters. The company is deeply Korean, and Confucian values like respect and harmony still guide the workplace today.

2. Korea’s discipline and commitment to education created the skilled workforce that built global giants like Hyundai.

3. Team harmony—inhwa—isn’t just cultural; it’s a competitive advantage for Korean firms.

4. Entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in Korea. Hyundai’s story is proof of that resilience.

5. The big question is: Can Hyundai keep its Korean roots while thriving globally? The answer lies in balance.

6. Founder Chung Ju-yung taught Hyundai a core belief: even the impossible is possible.

7. Hyundai began as a nation-builder—rebuilding Korea after war before building cars.

8. The Hyundai government-chaebol partnership demanded success—failure simply wasn’t an option.

9. Hyundai grew by diversifying fast: from concrete to cars, from steel to shipbuilding.

10. Chung Mong Koo’s leadership turned Hyundai into a global brand built on quality.

11. Hyundai’s original values—diligence, prudence, harmony—still frame how the company thinks and works.

12. Innovation at Hyundai means creating something from nothing—finding opportunity where others see limits.

13. Risk-taking is not only encouraged at Hyundai—it’s expected.

14. Hyundai Speed is more than efficiency. Once a decision is made, execution is relentless.

15. Core values like challenge, collaboration, customer, globality, and people show Hyundai’s blend of tradition and modernity.

16. Hyundai’s vision is simple: Together for a Better Future. That means mobility solutions beyond cars.

17. Management at Hyundai is learned by mentorship—styles are passed down from seniors to juniors.

18. Global exposure is reshaping Hyundai leaders, especially those educated abroad.

19. Collaboration is replacing hierarchy as Hyundai builds a more agile culture.

20. What Western teams see as rigid orders, Koreans see as following hierarchy. It’s about understanding context.

21. Jeans at Hyundai HQ? A small signal of a big cultural shift.

22. Flatter job titles are breaking down bureaucracy, speeding decisions, and innovation.

23. Hyundai’s infusion of Western leadership brings fresh creativity and a global perspective.

24. The old ‘Yes, sir’ culture is being replaced by a new ‘Why not?’ mindset.

25. Hyundai’s endgame is clear: become an agile, tech-driven mobility leader

Friday, August 08, 2025

 

korea 10 6 week intensive


Now Enrolling: Korea 101 – 6-Week Intensive
Your Fast Track to Korean Business Success – Just $795 (Reg. $1,595)

Working with Korea? Preparation is key.
This course delivers practical insights, proven strategies, and real-time guidance to navigate Korea’s business culture with confidence.

 Cultural Know-How
 Strategic Business Tactics
 Flexible Virtual Sessions
 Live Q&A + Team Discussions

Ideal for global teams, new hires, and leaders engaging with Korean counterparts.

🎯 Starts immediately | 6-week program | Virtual + flexible

👉 Enroll Now: Register Here    Just $795 (Reg. $1,595)

Questions? DM me—I’ll make sure you’re set up for success.


—Don Southerton


https://bridgingculture.com/

Thursday, February 06, 2025

Best Market Entry Practices 2025

 

Best Market Entry Practices 2025

By Don Southerton


I am a strong advocate for Korean global business. I see tremendous opportunities and am passionate about helping Korean brands succeed overseas and enabling international brands to thrive in the Korean market.


As I have shared, Korean and global companies must recognize the considerable upfront support and investment required to enter markets outside their home countries.


I want to share what I see as best practices for 2025.


Step 1: Do your homework


Invest time and resources in discovering the local market. Seek an expert knowledgeable about the local market and business sector to conduct an objective, detailed competitive analysis. The report should identify the strengths and weaknesses of the competition within the market, strategies that will give you a distinct advantage, the barriers that may hinder your entry into the market, and vulnerabilities in the competition that can be exploited.


Too often, I see a company scratch the surface of its market discovery. Sometimes, this controls initial investment costs by assigning in-house teams to work remotely and conducting research via a Google search.


In other cases, the headquarters staff dispatches a team to do “field work,” attend trade shows and perhaps arrange to visit a few potential partners.


These fall short of a legitimate competitive analysis.


Step 2: Get in front of the right people


For highly recognized U.S. or global brands, setting up meetings is less of a barrier because product or service name recognition does open doors. This recognition at least generates enough interest for a potential partner to want to learn more.


Korean brands entering an overseas market need significant effort to establish credibility upfront.


Arranging solid introductions involves an upfront cost and can be very time-consuming for both international and Korean market entry.


Furthermore, anyone with the skills, savvy, and reputation to facilitate introductions, especially with decision-makers, should not be expected to do so as a favor.


Step 3: Present the brand, product, and service as if it were a first date.


Although this was best done in person in the past, I recognize that introductions and first contacts today are often “virtual.” Any content presented at this stage should be high-quality and well-localized.


I often see repurposed PDF and PPT presentations — not unique, custom-tailored content.


Then, double-check the grammar, spelling, and punctuation of a native speaker and ensure the pages are free of format glitches.


At the very least, interested parties will Google a company—and often you personally—before any meeting, so it's advisable to have a professional website. Even better are postings by third parties, such as press releases and media articles, that showcase the company as a legitimate business.


Step 4: Share the Vision


During their screening and selection process, global companies will select a top candidate among potential partners based on criteria, the foremost of which is the partner’s solid vision and business plan in the market. They will ask if the local partner has performed a detailed competitive analysis (see Step 1) and then ask for a comprehensive Go-to-Market Business Plan. As a best practice, the Business Plan needs to be detailed, not a three—or four-page company overview.


Like the PDFs or PPTs shared during introductions, the Plan must be free of glitches, poor grammar, and spelling errors. The documents should present an appealing and solid business opportunity.


By the way, a Company PDF highlighting your brand is fantastic, but most potential partners are primarily interested in a solid business and go-to-market plan.


These four steps are best practices that can lead to a successful Letter of Understanding, clarifying in writing the terms that may have been discussed via email and in conversation.


These steps require time, resources, and commitment — there are upfront costs, unlike past and current practices in Korea that traditionally required less investment or were absorbed by the company.


Experts like BCW, with a proven track record, rarely work on a contingency basis. They seek a retainer to cover their time and expenses, with a bonus when a deal is signed or a development fee transaction occurs.


Regarding local market legal support, navigating the cultural and legal nuances of contract negotiations and drafting, and regulatory frameworks, “A little money carefully spent at the front end of market analysis, and during initial negotiations will always save a lot more money later in the process.” — as a trusted legal colleague has noted.

Frankly, global business presents challenges and risks. The effort requires embracing a new model and taking bold actions by committing resources to a project that leads them into uncharted waters, even when a more practical approach seems to involve tackling each stage as it unfolds.


I am open to talking with you about any questions.


I’m also happy to steer you in the right direction.


Plus, we can provide the support and resources needed for your market entry.


Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com


www.bridgingculture.com

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Team-level Korean Business Culture programs

 Don Southerton here...


In this YouTube episode, we look at our Team-level Korean Business Culture program.

Building Korean business cross-cultural understanding is essential for long-term team success.

Cultural differences can create misunderstandings and stress that impact productivity and smooth business operations. Cross-cultural education is recognized as the chief solution to workplace challenges.

We have a long history of training executives and teams in a wide range of Korea-focused mentoring, coaching, and strategy services.

We offer a six-week Korea 101 Korean Business Culture program for teams. The theme is “Working within the Cultures.”  The cost is US $4800.00.

Additionally, we provide situational mentoring and coaching as needed on issues that surface, focusing on negotiations and meeting expectations.

The workshops and mentoring aim to build upon the team’s experiences while providing new understandings.

We invite you to schedule a time to discuss the details using our Calendar.

https://calendly.com/dsoutherton 

Again, this is Don Southerton wishing you all the best.

Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com

Call or Text   +1-310-866-3777

Outcomes from the workshops include:

A stronger understanding of Korean cross-cultural differences and their relevance to Korean workplace culture, HMG, and the sister companies.

Reduced tensions and frustrations rooted in cross-cultural issues.

Support for interacting with assigned Korean teams and their affiliates.

Skills for working "within the culture."

Weekly online classes will cover topics including...

  1. Working with the Korean Business Culture
  2. Developing and Maintaining Korean Business Relations
  3. Do's and Don'ts for Korea Business
  4. Korean Decision-making
  5. Managing Expectations
  6. Legal Agreements--Subject to Change and Revision
  7. What to expect in 2024
  8. Weekly Q and A Discussion

Friday, October 11, 2024

Ten Insights into Korean Teams’ DNA, Norms, and Mindset

 


We’re rebooting our Korea 101 YouTube channel.

In this episode, I’ll share ten insights into Korean working teams’ DNA, norms, and mindset. The list was compiled by a Korean colleague who asked me to share it in my workshops and give others a better understanding of Korean work culture.



If you have a question or want more information … call, text, or email… and I’ll get back to you.

Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com

310–866–3777