South Korea
Business etiquette
Do's
Wait for elder to eat first
In South Korea, you have to wait until
people older than you start eating
Use honorific language for the first time
No matter how old the other person
is, you should speak in honorific language
Take off your shoes when entering indoors
This is common courtesy when you
go inside unless the host tell you not to
Don'ts
Pouring your own drink
You should not pour your own drink
especially when you are drinking with elders/superiors
Writing others' name in red
Koreans believe that writing in red
is for dead people and brings bad luck if used
Call elders/superiors by their name
You must not call elders/superiors by their
last or first name.
Hofstede Dimensions
Power distance
60
Hierarchical society
I believe this is important dimension in Korea especially in business industry. This hierarchical society is often used as topics of K-drama which reflects how subordinates accept inequality just because of their work position
Masculinity
39
Successful result rather than
the progress/process
Although South Korea only scored 39, I believe masculinity is crucial dimension that reflects Korea's society.
Student suicide rate is extremely high in Korea due to the depression that students go through. Parents' high expectation stress students. Korea is truly driven by successful results and competition rather than motivation or the process.