IndexHistorical and sociopolitical contextRelationships, respect, industries, dress codePresentations and greetingsExchange of business cardsRelationship developmentGiftsHistorical and sociopolitical contextSouth Korea, also called the Republic of Korea, is a country country in East Asia, which forms the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. It shares land borders with North Korea and overseas borders with China to the west and Japan to the east. By the late 16th century, Korea had survived numerous invasions by Japan and by the early 17th century by the Manchus of East Asia. This led to a 250 year long period of peace after they decided to limit contact with the outside world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay However, the situation changed in the late 19th century with Western powers making efforts to open trade and diplomatic relations with Korea, albeit with limited success. In the early 20th century, Japan emerged victorious in its competition against China and Russia for control of the Korean Peninsula. However, it was formally annexed after five years. During this period, Korea became an industrialized country, but its population suffered brutal repression under the Japanese, who attempted to wipe out their language and cultural identity. During World War II, many Korean men served in the Japanese army, and many women provided sexual services to Japanese soldiers. After the Japanese lost the war in 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union divided the peninsula into two zones. In 1948 the Republic of Korea was founded. With the declaration of independence in 1950, North Korea attempted to invade its neighbor in an attempt to regain control of the entire peninsula. This is known as the Korean War and ended in 1953 with an armistice agreement. Today, Korea is one of the richest countries in East Asia. Relationships, Respect, Industries, Dress Code South Korea is a collectivist country and is family oriented. Building relationships is an essential part of doing business in South Korea. Relationships are developed through informal social gatherings that involve a significant amount of food and drink. These meetings offer both parties the opportunity to discuss business in a friendlier and more relaxed environment. Make sure you attend all the meetings you are invited to because relationships in Korea are based on trust and are more personal. Communication is indirect and it is up to the listener to fill in the blanks and grasp the meaning by correctly reading the contextual clues. In South Korea, respect for age and status is very important in their culture, with a hierarchy influencing all aspects of life. social interactions. This respect stems from Confucian traditions, which emphasize respect for education, authorities, and elders. Everyone has a role in society as a result of hierarchy. They feel more comfortable interacting with someone they consider their equal. Status is determined by someone's role in an organization, what organization they work for, what university they attended, and their marital status. Make sure you always keep this in mind when speaking to a person above you so as not to show them any signs of disrespect. South Korea is Asia's third largest economy. The economy is driven by exports, with manufacturing focused on electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery, petrochemicals and robotics. The corporate dress code in South Korea is conservative. They place emphasisabout conformity rather than individual expression. Men should wear dark-colored business suits with white ties and shirts. Men's jewelry should be kept to a minimum: a watch and a wedding ring should be enough. Women should dress conservatively and in muted colors. The women wear traditional skirts and white blouses. Introductions and Greetings In South Korea, it is encouraged that you be introduced by a third party. However, whether you have been introduced to them by a third person or you have had a self-introduction meeting, it is important that you pay attention to their professional title and last name because calling them by their first name is considered rude, so you should call them with their surname and professional title. If there is no job title, stick with Mr./Ms./Mrs. South Koreans follow a strict protocol when greeting each other. Don't wave your hand when you just met someone in a business environment. South Koreans greet by bowing, with their legs straight and hands lowered to their sides or with both hands clasped in front of their stomach. A slight bow, 15 degrees, is acceptable when you meet someone several times a day or when you meet someone close to you or who is the same age as you. The salute, 30 degrees, and the respectful bow, 45 degrees, are used when meeting someone new or an older person. Sometimes, the person with a higher status initiates a handshake, without getting up, taking it with both hands. Korean women usually nod slightly and do not shake hands with Western men. Western women can offer their hand to a Korean man. While standing, they politely hand over a business card with two hands and receive one in return. Koreans bow to their elders both as a greeting and as a show of respect. The younger person begins the bow by greeting the individual with the highest status first, followed by the eldest when he encounters a group. When planning a meeting, it's best to plan it a few weeks in advance. In Korea, most meetings are held between 10am and 12pm or between 2pm and 4pm. South Koreans value punctuality and see it as a sign of respect. If you are late, whatever the reason, call ahead to let the other person know. Although you are expected to arrive a few minutes early or on time, it is common for Korean executives to arrive a few minutes late due to their schedules and commitments. With this in mind, it's common for executives to cancel meetings at the last minute. If these cancellations happen often, you might assume that they are not interested in doing business or are delaying the process. Since they are a low context country, they expect you to recognize it without them saying it out loud. Exchanging Business Cards Exchanging business cards is an essential part of first meetings. It allows them to quickly determine their counterpart's most important position, title, and rank. Before handing over your card to the other party, introduce yourself first. While standing, you will politely hand over your business card with two hands and receive one in return. When you hand over your card, make sure your name is facing the other person. It is recommended to exchange cards. In this situation, you would accept the card with both hands and hand it over with two hands later. If you exchange cards at the same time, you exchange your card with your right hand and receive your counterpart's card with your left hand. When you receive the other party's card, it is important to treat it with respect. It will then take you a few seconds to review their names and titles. If you are seated, place the card on the table in front of you for the duration of the match. Not.