Korea

GOOD BUSINESS ETIQUETTE TO HAVE WHEN VISITING KOREA




KEY FACTS ABOUT KOREA :
- Government is a Republic - Located Southern half of Korean Peninsula - 26% Christian, 26% Buddhist, 1% Confucians - Population estimated to be 48,598,175 -Homogenous ethnic make up, except for 20,000 Chinese

KOREAN CULTURE:

· **Business Meeting Etiquette: ** 1. Business appointments should be made 3 to 4 weeks in advance 2. You cannot arrive late to a meeting, or else this is a sign of disrespect to the one you are meeting. 3. You should have all written documents and other materials in both English and Korean. 4. Prior to the meeting, it is highly recommended that you send an agenda as well as back up material that provides info about your company and client testimonials. 5. After the most senior South Korean has entered the room, do not remove your jacket until he does so.

· **Casual Meeting Etiquette: **
 * 1. When greeting someone, it is customary to bow first, and then shake hands. **
 * 2. The one who initiates the bow (usually the person of lower status) says "man-na-suh pan-gop-sumnida,” which means “pleased to meet you.” **
 * 3. **Prior to leaving, one says good bye and bows to each person individually.

· **Dining Etiquette: ** **1. Before entering one’s house, one must remove their shoes. ** **2. It’s customary for the host to greet each guest individually. ** **3. One is able to arrive no more than 30 minutes late without offending the host. ** **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">4. Only the host pours drinks for his guests, the hostess does not. ** **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">5. The hosts, believing that it is an insult to wish their guests farewell from inside, tend to walk with them to their cars or gate. ** **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">6. ** Lastly, it is very good to send a note thanking the hosts for inviting them to dinner the previous night.

· **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Dress Etiquette: ** **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">1. Business attire is considered conservative, so it is typical for men to wear dark colored business suits with white shirts. ** **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">2. Women wear subdued colors. ** **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">3. ** Other than watches or their wedding rings, men should avoid wearing jewelry.

· ** Language: ** 1. All Koreans speak and write the same language. 2. Even though Modern Korea has many different dialects, they are so alike that those who speak or listen have no trouble understanding each other.

· ** Table Etiquettes: ** <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">1. One must wait to be told where to sit. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">2. Elderly are served first; they are the ones who initiate eating. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">3. One should neither point their chopsticks nor pierce their food with them. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">4. Do NOT use your hands to pick up food! <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">5. Finish all food on your plate; place your chopsticks on the table to show you are done eating.

· **<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Korean Family Values: ** <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">1. The family is the most significant in Korean life. 2. In the Confucian tradition, custom holds that the father is the head of the family, and is the one responsible for providing his family with sustenance, clothes and shelter; the father also approves marriages of his family. 3. The eldest son’s duties lie first to his parents, then his brothers in descending order, followed by his sons, wife, and lastly his daughters. 4. Welfare of the family is considered more important than individual needs. 5. Because actions of one family member reflect on the entire family, family members are tied to each other.

· **<span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Exchanging Business Cards: ** <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">1. You __should__ have one side of your card translated into Korean. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">2. When exchanging business cards, you should present yours with the Korean side facing the recipient, allowing them to read it. <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">3. Do NOT write on the business card you received from someone in their presence.

[|South Korea: Etiquette and Customs]
==**[|The Korean Flag]**==