Business Tips for South Korea
South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea, is a country rich
in family heritage and Confucianism. When you are traveling to South
Korea on business, one of the first
things you will notice is that the family is at the absolute center
of their culture. The man is seen as the head of the household and
there is
a very rigid
hierarchy
moving down the line from there. Family is so important in the foundation
of South Korean culture that many families can be traced back as far
as 500 years or more.
Recently there has been a technology boom in South Korea, ninety percent
of the country has amazingly fast, 3-megabits-per-second broadband
at home, and similarly high-speed wireless connections on the road.
Broadband service in the area costs the consumer
less than $20 a month and PC's are at a price point where it is very
affordable.
The banks in the region have been showing profits
that have increased
ten fold over
the past few years. These factors have many companies and investors
looking at the Korean market.
Building Business Relationships in South Korea
Building successful business relationships in South Korea requires you to
spend time getting to know your business partners and letting them build
up trust for you. The Korean people believe in duty and honor above all else.
Because of this, you will be expected to be very respectful of anyone you
come into contact with. Harmonious business and personal dealings are always
the goal.
Korean Business Introductions
In South Korea you will find that business introductions are a very formal
event. The most senior official will enter the room first and make all of
the necessary introductions. It is the tradition of the country that the
lower status person in a meeting bows to the person of higher status. In
addition, South Koreans will also shake hands with Western visitors after
they bow to show an understanding of Western culture. The hand shake is initiated
by the person of the higher status.
Business Cards / Language
The act of exchanging business cards in South Korea is a very formal ceremony
with some very strict rules to follow. After initial introductions will follow
the exchanging of business cards, and it is believed that the way you treat
someone’s business card is equivalent to the way in which you will
treat that person in your business transactions. For this reason you should
definitely consider having your business cards translated into Korean. You
will present your business card with the Korean translated side up, using
both of your hands.
When you are accepting a business card, you should do so with both of your
hands and make sure you take the time to read the business card thoroughly.
This shows the giver that you care to take the time to know who they are.
In addition, make sure to never write on someone’s business card in
their presence, as this is seen as being rude.
Teamwork and Individuality in South Korea
In South Korea business relationships, as well as their personal relationships,
are all based on respect. For this reason, the individuality of the leader
is important, as is the absolute teamwork of his team of subordinates. Teams
of people show exceptional respect to each other in South Korea, as well
as to their leadership.
Use Software to Translate English to Korean or Korean to English
It is vitally important to be able to communicate well with your Korean
business partners. Without excellent communication, it is nearly impossible
to build-up the foundation and trust required to be successful in your business
ventures in South Korea. Translation software can be purchased which will
allow you to translate your written English text into Korean to help facilitate
better communication. You will find that having a Korean translator on your
laptop will be very useful for your business dealings in South Korea.
What can Korean Translation Software Do For You?
• Convert your text from English to Korean or Korean to English
•
Translate all of your business correspondence to/from Korean and English
•
Convert e-mail messages and PDF files into Korean and English
•
Translate Word, Excel and Power Point files.
Tip: If you rely on software completely to do the translation and do not
have human to proof your document, send both the English and the Korean translation
and put a note on the translated text to let the recipient know you have
used software. This way if there is any question they can refer back to the
English.
Final Thoughts
Confucianism is very prevalent in South Korean Culture. It is for this reason
that you will find the people of South Korea to be very hierarchical and
respectful in every situation. It is very important for you to attempt to
assimilate your behaviors to theirs while visiting their country. By being
able to translate your thoughts and questions into the Korean language, you
can better communicate and conduct business.
Related Items
Korean Translation Software
|
Buy and 
