South Korea: Daily Life
January 24,2018
by GoinGlobal
South Korea is a place where people work hard. This is a nation that has grown from a state of absolute poverty at the end of the Korean War to a First World country with one of Asia’s highest per capita incomes. Such a feat in less than 60 years is not possible with ‘nine-to-five’ jobs.
Confucian ethics continue to dictate a great respect for age, parents, teachers and employers. Although Western cultural influence is gradually entering Korea’s business world, major differences still exist between the typical Korean company and Western companies. Many Korean companies still apply the seniority principle, or hierarchy according to age, but brainstorming, regular meetings and other team-building activities have entered the mainstream of organizational culture in Korea.
Koreans also value lifelong friendships. It is common to find middle-aged best friends who met in grade school or military service. Korean history is speckled with invasions and weary war years, so locals have learned the hard way the value of a loyal friend. The termjeong is a difficult-to-translate concept that means affection, compassion, sympathy, community and attachment. The closest English equivalent word may be ‘bonding.’ Jeong is so important in Korea that once this type of connection is developed, it is rarely renounced. Instead, it is cherished and given opportunities to flourish.
That said, it also is worth noting that Koreans are more likely than other Asian cultures to accept foreign acquaintances. They enjoy helping expatriates understand and experience their traditions. In exchange, they expect foreigners to be polite, humble and respectful of Korean ways. For instance, they understand not all cultures remove their shoes at the front door; they will graciously ask guests to do so, and show them how it is done