SOUTH KOREA

1. INTRODUCTION

reinvented as the cultural epicenter of Asian

culture
world leader in electronics, shipbuilding, steel
and automotive
74% of South Koreans undertake postgraduatelevel education, with 7% of (GDP) spent on
education

2. FIRST MEETING

slight bow sometimes accompanied with a

handshake (right forearm)

maintaining eye contact

in business women also shake hands

address people by their title or by their title and

family name

3. TABLE MANNERS

one of the traditional chopstick cultures.

do not leave the table while eating.

wait for the elders to hold their spoon first and keep
pace with them.

when the elderly person is getting up after finishing

the meal, get up together.

4. PUNCTUALITY

One of the most important etiquette

book for any meetings in advance like a week

Koreans expect Westerners to be punctual

5. GIFT GIVING

exchanging of gifts secures favors and builds

relationships

good gifts for a first visit - office items

items of beauty and craftsmanship and foodstuffs

avoid expensive gifts

gift wrapping is very important

6. GENDER BEHAVIOR

a male-dominated society in which women play

supportive roles

women of exceptional skills rarely achieve role in

business

when doing business with Western women, South

Koreans do accept them as equals.

7. SUPERSTITIONS

Korea has unusual superstitions

1. having an electric fan running overnight in a
closed room could kill you
2. whistling at night should be prohibited in
order to keep the ghosts
3. the word for four has the same sound for
the word for death. (F instead of 4 in
elevators, hospitals and hotels)

8. RELIGION

Shamanism - natural world is filled with spirits, both

helpful and harmful

Confucianism influences the status, social contacts,

relationships with others.

Koreans status determined by age, gender,

education, family background, wealth, occupation,
and political ideology

9. CONCLUSION

When negotiating with South Koreans:

be aware of this culture

be patient during the negotiation process

be prepared that the negotiation process may take

more than one meetings to complete the deals