Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

Culture plays the dominate role in the Korea workplace and in overseas operations. This week we’d like to share my book that tackles many of the issues that surface…. as well as providing workarounds. The title is Korea Perspective http://unbouncepages.com/korea-perspective-launch/ Follow the links or just ask, and we’ll forward a PDF copy. My goal is for you to “move forward within the Culture. “ To discuss about more a Korean facing business question, Stacey stacey@koreabcw.com, my assistant can schedule us a time to meet or chat by phone.  For all urgent matters, text me at 310-866-3777

To qualify, specifically when working with teams outside Korea, I fall back on to 3 fundamentals with regard to Korean business. Hierarchy—place and order Hierarchy is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of Korean culture and deeply embedded in the Korean workplace in Korea and overseas. Reaching back to Korea's Neo-Confucian past, social stratification is apparent in Korea's top companies like the Samsung, Hyundai, Kia Motors, LG and SK. More so, South Korea’s authoritarian military regimes of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s reinforced the model. For Koreans hierarchy brings place and order to society and the workplace. Unlike the West, within this hierarchy no two individuals have the same place within the social matrix--age, education, family, employment and title /position with a company or organization determining where one stands within this matrix. So deeply does it impact Korea that rankings from one’s academic class standings to consumer rating of the...

More than once, actually frequently…. A firm looking to enter Korea or one doing business with a Korea-based company contacts me and inquires on best practices. Forthcoming, I provide a roadmap. After some deliberation, the firm decides they will initially handle the launch or project themselves… and when time is right seek out my assistance—their team quite savvy. In my experience organizations hoping their team will adapt quickly to Korea business rarely works. Even if the plan includes hiring Korean or Korean heritage staff, which is helpful in language issues, it has little impact on dealing with more complex issues. In the long run not fully comprehending Korean company culture, practices, norms and expectations will be costly, not only in fiscal terms, but in poor productivity, stress and frustration. All said, there are positive options. Provide immersion support across your organization to all those involved in the ventures. This includes offering your hom...

Immersion. It’s my approach when working with new executives, team members and their partner--service providers. It’s not only a best practice followed by top Korea-facing companies, but a lesson-learned over the years on the consequences of not providing this support. More than a few clients, for example, offers up to 18 hours of my Korea 101 ℠ programs, not to mention ongoing mentoring to the executives. We also provide immersion with New Employee Orientation and even for their summer intern programs. Bottom line “Immersion” gives teams the skills to “work within the Culture.” Oh, one more thing.    All partner-providers, account representatives, and their support teams should receive immersion training….  Often overlooked these teams, too, need to “work with the Culture.” Korea facing clients differ greatly in nuance and practice from the other American, European and Asian brands they may support. To learn more, Stacey my personal assistant ( Stacey@korea...