Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

Merry Christmas from Don Southerton Christmas is a popular holiday in South Korea. That said, it is also seen as a distinctly Christian holiday. As the holiday approaches, you may wish to greet Korean colleagues with a common greeting. Sae hae bok man i ba deu say yo!  Hint: When speaking, break the greeting into: sae hae bok—mahne—bah deu say yo Sae hae bok man i ba deu say yo! works well both in person, in a card, text, IM, or an email.  In fact, it is the best seasonal greeting for New Year’s, too. With the time differences, plan to wish Korea-based friends and colleagues a holiday greeting no later than US/ Canada/ EU on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 ...so Thursday Christmas Eve Day AM in Korea. Questions?  Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com ###      

This week I'd like to share my recent post in Haps Magazine Korea . As we watch COVID-19’s impact on Korean global business, we can still expect some norms to continue—year-end promotions—proceeding as in the past.  Year-end organization-wide promotions, restructuring, and new assignments for teams are traditionally a part of Korean corporate culture. Top to bottom within Korean companies they occur sometime between early December and early January, with the changes to senior leadership happening first, and team level changes as a norm made known the week just before or between Christmas and New Year’s Day. After the holidays, teams then report back to work. Some assume new roles frequently in departments where they have little experience—requiring employees to acquire new skills—sink or swim.  In the days that follow those shuffled brief their replacements, as staff remaining in their jobs update new management teams on the status of projects and issues. Meanwhile, others wil...