Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

Good News As millions of Koreans return from their 5 day Chuseok Holiday and Korean business resumes....I was just told that my latest book titled, A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: Gold and Rail, Book Two 1895-1900 is now available from the publisher. This is the second novel in The Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm trilogy. Like Book One, it is historically accurate and gazes back into late nineteenth century America and Korea. In Book Two, we find strong U.S. influence unfold in Korea as American entrepreneurs gain gold mining, railroad, and electric trolley concessions. Click here... http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0-595-47071-8 The book is also available in eBook format... Sincerely, Don

추석 Chuseok-Korean Thanksgiving Holiday Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated all over the world at different times of the year and in different ways. For Koreans, the traditional Thanksgiving Holiday is called Chuseok. This year is falls on Tuesday September 25. Most South Korean firms will close for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Celebrated for centuries as the lunar-based (fifteenth day of the 8th lunar month) Fall Harvest Festival, Chuseok is among the most important of Korean holidays, a day filled with family and tradition. Millions of Koreans travel to join their family and celebrate traditional customs of Chuseok, including ancestral memorial rituals, followed by a day of special foods and family-focused activity. One of the most popular of the traditional foods is song pyeon, which is a pine needle-flavored half moon-shaped rice cake. In Korea, during the days prior to the actually holiday, streets and stores are packed with shoppers buying food and gifts. Gift-giving is an imp...

I do most of my work at Starbucks...whether I'm at home in La Jolla, California, on the road, or in Korea. WiFi connects me to BCW's global clients. Korea media notes their Starbucks location will offer FREE WiFi for October to celebrate Chuseok. ( Watch for my upcoming Blog on Chuseok 2007). Coffee With Free Internet Korea is repeatedly dubbed one of the most wired nations in the world. But when it comes to the wireless field, it is not much better than any other countries _ the coverage is limited, connection is unstable and the charge is absurdly high. One of the places that guarantee good wireless connection is Starbucks coffee shops. Celebrating Chuseok, KT opened up its Nespot wireless Internet service for free at the American coffee chain from Monday. The promotional event continues through October. One must sign up as a member on the Web site of either KT, Daum Communications or Starbucks. Once in the cafe, Web browsers will automatically be connected to the Nespot sit...

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm has received great reviews both here in the US and in Asia. A sequel is at my publisher and I expect its release in mid-October. I have also crafted a screenplay based on the novel. Synopsis A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm is the story of a young, ambitious Connecticut Yankee Josh Gillet. Josh longs for high adventure and travel. Leaving late 19th century New England for a sojourn in Japan, Josh soon finds himself in the Hermit Kingdom—Korea. Coming of age is always filled with trial and tribulation. For Josh Gillet, intense life experiences are forged in an ancient land that has become the political chessboard for 19th century imperialist powers (China, Japan, Russia, Great Britain, France and the U.S.)—amid a bold Protestant missionary movement and Anglo merchants with hopes of quick wealth. Josh quickly learns that high adventure, opportunity, and a budding romance come at a price as cultures--East and West--collide. BTW The book wa...

Several times a year I craft a brief commentary—partly a report on recent trends in Korea, and partly a suggestion or two for your organization. For this commentary, my thoughts turn to Change within Korea-based organizations. Driving Change In Korea, amazing economic growth occurred in the last decades of the twentieth century. Korea’s top corporations developed distinct corporate culture and practices. Today, most Korean corporate leadership and forward-thinkers recognize that many domestic practices and norms will not succeed globally. Different markets require localization. Global markets require a global mindset. Recently I’ve found it interesting that there are two diverging versions of Korean global business. One more progressive style is shifting to a global business model and dropping many of the norms, practices, and customs that define Korean corporate life at Samsung, Hyundai, Kia, LG, SK, Doosan, Hyosung, etc. In contrast, another and currently more widespread traditional ...