As Korea signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United States and the European Union (EU), more foreign companies are establishing branches in Korea. Accordingly, Korean companies are also hiring more foreign professionals to compete with these developed countries. When Koreans and Westerners work together in a company or office, it is often seen that not only language differences but also cultural differences cause unnecessary misunderstandings or major negligence in business.
These cultural differences come from the unique cultural background of each country, and if you do not understand them, it is difficult to understand the other party, and is often directly linked to considerable losses in business. This is because each country's unique cultural background creates many differences in vertical hierarchical relationships within the workplace, interpersonal relationships based on linguistic expression methods, title relationships based on age and position, and self-expression methods.
Therefore, understanding the difference between Korean and Western culture and recognizing and accepting Westerners' culture means that they can work while establishing more developmental and cooperative relationships with foreigners working together. In addition, this will increase the efficiency of work and improve the competitiveness of companies by competing with leading companies at the level of global companies from a global perspective. In the following, we will focus on representative examples of these cultural differences and the experiences of foreigners working in Korea.
■ Global Etiquette
Today, about 3 percent of the world's population crosses borders and lives in unfamiliar places as economic, technological, and cultural interdependence increases as the boundaries between countries gradually weaken due to the development of transportation and information and communication technology. In the case of Korea, many foreigners, such as foreign workers and marriage immigrants, have entered the country since the 1990s and are forming a new society. This cross-border movement is gradually becoming familiar to the extent that it is not an exaggeration to call it ‘the age of migration’. Active international migration is creating a 'multicultural society' where people of different cultures live together not only in Korea but also around the world. David Bartrum etc., , 2017.
On the other hand, globalization has greatly changed the way we live, and these changes have given us many opportunities and challenges to overcome. In particular, the exchange of capital, goods, and human resources between countries brought about not only the exchange of economic goods but also the contact between different cultures. Cultural contact can be an opportunity for respect and integration, but it also often causes cultural clashes.
In his book , Samuel Huntington points out that the clash of disparate cultures, such as the West and the non-Western, Christianity and Islam, Asia and Latin America, is becoming the background of new international cooperation and conflict in today's world.
On the other hand, with the development of transportation and communication today, frequent exchanges between countries have tended to integrate the world into a single global village. In etiquette, we can no longer insist on our etiquette, and we have to know and keep the global etiquette that we must have as global citizens while valuing our etiquette. Therefore, global etiquette has now become an essential etiquette for all people in the global village, and it has become more necessary as international exchanges become more frequent.
Etiquette does not have legal binding force in people's lives, but it refers to basic etiquette that must be observed between people in order to make human relationships smooth, and it can be seen that it begins with consideration for the other person.
The term 'etiquette' is said to have originated at the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV of France. At the time, banquets were held from time to time in the Palace of Versailles, but there were no toilets, so it is said that it originated from the fact that the flower bed manager put up a sign saying “Do not step on the flower bed.” It can be seen that it begins with consideration for the other person.
Etiquette is universal etiquette that everyone must abide by and is a kind of promise that is hardened by the culture and customs of a country or nation. As the proverb goes, “If you go to Rome, do as the Romans do”. That is global etiquette.
The first condition of global etiquette in conversation is 'consideration for the other person'. You should listen to the other person's words with a joyful and active attitude and respond through words and hand movements. In Korea, when you listen to what the other person is saying, there are many cases where you listen without showing a big reaction. However, in the West, it is polite to reciprocate after the other person has finished the conversation. It is rude to cut off a word in the middle, so be careful.
Second, the basic principle of personnel management is ‘those who see first do it’. When entering a place, the person entering should greet the first person. Koreans do not greet each other when meeting strangers in a small space such as an elevator, but Westerners naturally exchange greetings. If a stranger greets you, not responding is perceived as ignoring the person.
Third, when shaking hands, you should give your hand moderate strength. It should not be too strong or too weak. A handshake should be done in a standing position, looking the other person in the eye with the right hand, and smiling softly. As for the order of handshakes, it is a principle that the elder or woman extends her hand first. It is rude for a subordinate to shake hands or for a man to ask a woman to shake hands first. It is a rule that men and women do not shake hands with each other, but recently, there have been cases in which men and women shake hands in business. If the relationship is clear, it is not rude for a high-ranking man to ask a low-ranking woman to shake hands.
Fourth, it is basic to know the other person's name when having a conversation. When one person says their name first, naturally, the other person also says their name. In Korea, we usually say the other person's title, such as teacher or boss, but in the West, it's better to call them by their last name or first name. If the other person asks you to call them by your first name, you can just call them by your first name.
Fifth, when the other person compliments, Koreans lower themselves with a negative expression meaning “no.” But it's much better to say "thank you" than that. And in Korea, there are many cases where you don't express your opinion directly, especially in business relationships. You must express your opinion accurately and draw clear conclusions. This is because many people get into trouble later because they do not use the word “no” properly.
Monthly Chosun (April 2010), “Global etiquette that Koreans are easily confused about, Global Standard begins with etiquette.
■ Secrets of Cultural Differences Related to Plane Crashes
First, at around 1:42 a.m. on August 6, 1997, a Korean Air passenger plane, while attempting to land at Guam Airport, deviated from the runway and crashed into a hill near the airport due to poor visibility due to bad weather and the accumulated fatigue of the pilots. 228 of 254 died. At that time, the pilots attempted to land even though the runway was not visible due to the bad weather.
As the aircraft descended and the proximity alarm sounded a 500-foot warning, the first officer told the captain, "Landing, let's give up." However, this was the tone of the ‘recommendation’ method. When the captain did not respond immediately, the co-pilot said, "I can't see, give up landing," and only then did the captain decide to give up landing. In the meantime, the aircraft descended and crashed. If the first officer had said in an urgent tone, "Abandon landing" rather than "Let's give up landing," in response to an emergency situation, the emergency situation could have been dealt with immediately and the plane crash could have been prevented. Malcolm Gladwall, “The Ethnic Theory of the Plane Crashes”, Outliers Chapter 7, p. 252.
Second, in 2001, Korean Air recruited David Greenberg from Delta Air Lines as flight safety manager to find the root cause of aviation safety and suggest countermeasures. Greenberg found the main cause of Korean Air's plane crash in Korea's complicated honorific system and vertical class culture. Greenberg said, “Korean Air's official language is English. If you want to remain a Korean Air pilot, you must be able to speak English fluently.” English does not have such an honorific system, and authority between classes is low. In other words, in the 'Power Distance Index', which indicates the difference in authority between classes, Korea is at the top and the United States is at the bottom.
Despite the fact that the relationship between the captain and the co-pilot has to complement each other to operate the aircraft, Korean pilots have a clear hierarchical relationship between the captain and the co-pilot, and the co-pilot has to obey the captain’s command. Furthermore, for minor mistakes by the copilot, the captain can give an admonition by shaking the copilot's hand, and this is naturally accepted. In addition, there is a complex honorific system in these hierarchical relationships. For example, very low (do it), normal low (do it), normal high (haiyo), very high (do it), etc. In this rigid hierarchical relationship and use of honorific language, subordinates can not only can subordinates not immediately point out the superior's faults but also convey the situation without hurting the superior's feelings through indirect speech.
After recruiting Mr. Greenberg, Korean Air was able to restore internal and external trust as accidents almost disappeared. In addition to strengthening the English education mentioned above, Mr. Greenberg improved the culture in the cockpit and standardized technical terms and communication procedures by increasing the proportion of civilian pilots among the military pilots. Through this organizational culture change, Korean Air was able to prevent similar aircraft accidents and become a benchmark for other airlines.
Third, on April 10, 2010, a plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski crashed while forcefully landing at an airport in Russia in heavy fog, killing 97 people. Shortly after this incident, Poland's largest daily newspaper, Gazeta Viborgza, introduced the case of Korean Air. “At the end of the 1990s, Korean Air was asked to liquidate the alliance with Air France and Delta Air Lines as a series of accidents, large and small, occurred. In addition, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded the safety rating, faced a crisis, and overcame the crisis through aviation safety consulting. The solution was 'speak English'. In Korea, respect for superiors and elders is strong, so even if the captain made a mistake, the first officer was often unable to speak directly. Through English conversation, I was able to break the hierarchical culture that was trapped in the 'language trap'.”
■ Cultural Differences Related to Titles
Titles are very important in Korea, and companies use them when talking. In contrast, Westerners do not use titles but instead use first names or “Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss” before their surnames. The title only indicates who is in charge and is not actually used. Western-style titles are Mr. and Mrs. They call each other by name, and when they become close to each other, they call each other by name regardless of age or rank. In Korea, people determine one’s social status by his or her title. Therefore, if you use a low title that does not fit your age, you may feel humiliated or have an inferiority complex. For this reason, in the case of sales department employees, regardless of their actual position, they sometimes use higher-ranking titles to help their business activities.
■ Cultural Differences Related to Age
Westerners can be friends of any age if they think they like each other. In contrast, in Korea, only people of similar ages can be friends. In the West, age is not much of an impediment to being friends, as the age of friends is recognized as more experienced, and the elders are respected for being older, depending on the situation. In Korea's workplace culture, it is not easy for one to rise to a higher position than one's elders. Younger people should be promoted first and lead older people, but in a top-down organizational culture, older people do not want to follow suit. In contrast, Westerners, regardless of age, respect and follow the ability to perform the position.
■ Cultural Differences in Behavior
Examples of cultural differences felt by foreigners living and working in Korea are as follows:
First, in Korea, when someone gives you something, it is polite to accept it after refusing it once or twice. In the West, when the other person gives you something, he takes it right away if you want it.
Second, when eating a meal in Korea, at home, wait until the elders eat first, and at school, wait until the teacher eats first. In contrast, in the West, this procedure is not considered.
Third, Koreans in general are very kind and helpful when they know you. However, if Koreans don't know you, they tend to ignore your existence as if you don't exist. In contrast, Westerners don't know each other but treat each other amicably. For example, say hello and have a casual conversation.
Fourth, it is very rude in English-speaking countries to say “okay, ok, ok” or “yes, yes, yes” over and over again. In Korea, it is used to mean “I really understand” or “Yes, I will do it right away.” However, in English, it is used to mean, “Okay, keep your mouth shut, I won’t listen to you anymore.”
Fifth, Koreans do not directly talk to their superiors when they are treated unfairly or when their superiors do something wrong. On the other hand, Westerners usually talk directly to superiors and argue.
Sixth, in Western culture, you can naturally discuss your major field with your graduate school advisor, ask questions, and express your objections. It is common.
Seventh, when calling a title in English, ‘Mr. Shown’ or ‘Miss Jennifer’ are misnomers. In Korea, you can generally use ‘Mr. Shawon’ or ‘Mr. Jennifer’ by adding ‘Mr.’ to the end of your name, but in English, you must add “Mr.” or “Miss” in front of your family name. For example, if you are Shown Brown, ‘Mr. Brown’ and ‘Jennifer Beal’ is ‘Miss Beal’ or ‘Mrs. Beal’.”
