Social Customs and Values
Language: Korean’s are a very large ethnic family, that speak one language and have a very strong cultural identity. They share many distinct physical characteristics which differentiate them from many other asian ethnicities, such as the Chinese or Japanese. As stated by Kwinessential, a professional translating company:
“The Korean language is spoken by more than 65 million people living on the peninsula and its outlying islands as well as 5.5 million Koreans living in other parts of the world. The fact that all Koreans speak and write the same language has been a crucial factor in their strong national identity. Modern Korea has several different dialects including the standard one used in Seoul and central areas, but they are similar enough that speakers/listeners do not have trouble understanding each other.”
Family Values: Family is the utmost important part of Korean life, the welfare of the family becomes before individual needs. The actions of one family member will reflect on the rest of the family, therefore each member of the family is tied to the other. Many Korean families keep a registry of male ancestors which can allow them to trace their specific family’s history for over 500 years.
Communication and Relationships: Preferably, South Koreans like to do business with people they have a personal connection with, making it crucial to be introduced by a third-party. Often relationships are developed through informal social gatherings, involving a heavy amount of eating and drinking. It may take a lot of time and patience but after individuals have established a sense of mutual trust and respect, they will work hard to ensure a successful business relationship. South Koreans view le...
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...you treat someone’s business card, shows how you will treat the person who gave it to you. If you are in Korea, you should have one side Printed in Korean. When presenting your card, it is best to use two hands, with the Korean side facing up so that it is recognized by the recipient. Examine each card given to you carefully and place it in a case or portfolio, you should never write on someone else’s business card in front of them.
"South Korea - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette." The Translation Agency For A Complete Professional Translation Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Bosrock, M. M., & Window on the World (2014). South Korea - Cultural Etiquette - e Diplomat. Retrieved April 3, 2014, from http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_kr.htm
What are the most important aspects of Hmong culture? What do the Hmong consider their most important duties and obligations? How did they affect the Hmong’s transition to the United States?
She clearly and logically illustrates her point of view. She writes, “cultural differences are assumed and expected. But when the cultures of individuals are under scrutiny, it becomes clear that cultural borders do not hold their dividing power.” (98) Combined with her ability to logically expound on her view of cultural borders, she uses several anecdotes to further her point. She identifies four individuals who exemplify multiculturalism. Each of these examples share a Korean heritage but have adopted many other cultural markers from additional sources including non-Korean parents, U.S. society, immigration, and through adoption. Chang poses the question, “Would it be possible for one to become culturally more Korean in the morning, German for lunch, ‘American’ in the afternoon, and back to Korean in the evening? In her conclusion and in answer to that question she states, “Once different standards are embraced by individuals, the differences are incorporated into their individual cultures…the cultural differences are reframed into multiculturalism.”
Clark, Donald N. "1. The Story of the Korean People." Culture and Customs of Korea. Santa
Asians are one of the fastest growing groups in the United States and their culture is unique. A majority of the Asian culture is known for making big dinners to bring the family together to simply talk or celebrate together. There are three main categories of Asian dietary culture, which are the southwest, northwest and southeast. We will be focusing on the second largest dietary culture of Asia, which is in the northeast that contains China, Korea, and Japan. Food in this culture is not only a method of fueling ones body it is also used in certain types of medicines to heal ailments and also used in religious offerings.
Fukuoka, Yasunori “Koreans in Japan: Past and Present,” Saitama University Review, vol. 31, no.1, 1996.
The rest of the book is spent discussing each of the countries in detail. For each country the authors give a brief explanation of the history of the culture. Then they give tips on what each country expects from a visiting businessman. This includes tips on whether or not it is okay to be late for meetings, proper behavior during a business lunch or dinner, and how to properly address people you come in contact with during your business trip. They also give a guide t...
Living in the United States as a Korean-American was not an easy task growing up. Sure I knew how to read and write English, but I did not know how to read, speak, and write my native language. It was difficult for me emotionally because I felt other people looked down on me especially Korean adults who often asked me why I did not know how to speak Korean in which I had no direct answer. "You should know how to at least speak Korean," they commonly spoke in a friendly tone, trying not to hurt my feelings. In my seventh grade year, I had the urge to take a step in order for me to fit in with the rest of my fellow peers, the Korean sub communities, and feel better about myself.
This book is pieced together in two different efforts, one which is to understand the latter history of the post-1945 era with its political liberalization and rapid industrialization period, while at the same time centering its entire text on the question of Korean nationalism and the struggle against the countless foreign invasions Korea had to face. The purpose of this book was composed to provide detailed treatment of how modern Korea has developed with the converged efforts of top eastern and western scholars who wanted to construct a fair overview of Korea's complicated history. Also, the writers wanted to create an updated version of Korea's history by covering the contemporary arena up to the 1990's. The ...
1945 marked the end of World War II and the end of Japan’s reign in Korea. Korea had been under Japanese rule since the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty in 1910. During this time, Korea had been brutally treated by Japan. The Korean language was suppressed as well as traditional Korean culture. Japan forced Korean people to take Japanese surnames and took many “comfort women” otherwise known as sex slaves for the Japanese military. As a result, the diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan were strained. Japan was determined to forget the past and deny many of the things that happened while Korea was determined to not move past it. There have been disputes between the two countries about acknowledging comfort women and territories, many sprouting up from World War II and before. While there has been improvement, the relationship between Japan and Korea is strained, mainly due to Japan’s unwillingness to remember and apologize for the past and Korea’s stubbornness to not move on from the past.
From Korean Pop stars to dramas, South Korea has it going on. It seems that there is not one Asian country that has not had the Korean Wave, a Chinese term given to South Korea referring to the exportation of their culture, completely wash over it. What started as an Asian sensation, the Korean Wave is now beginning to spread globally, ranking South Korea as one of the top countries known for its exportation of culture. Between music, television, and video games, South Korea’s economy is rapidly increasing as the world continues to fall in love with its entertainment industry.
Robinson, J. H. (2000) 'Communication in Korea: Playing Things bye Eye'. Intercultural Communication Journal: A Reader. Vol.9, pp. 74-81.
The end of World War II marked the formation of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern half of the Korean peninsula and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the northern half (“Korea, South”). Although these two countries were formed at the same time, they are now vastly different culturally and economically. The two countries do have some similarities and they are similarities that remind the world that Korea was once united. Hangeul, the accepted South and North Korean national language, is considered to be “one of the most scientific writing systems in the world.” The fact that the language is so easy to read and write is thought to be the reason behind South Korea’s high literacy rate (“Facts About Korea”). Other than their language and a few shared cultural practices, the citizens of North and South Korea have very little in common. South Korea is, ironically, more of a democracy than the DPRK ever was ...
In this interview Ben Bagley asks Theresa Han about the difference between Korean and American culture. Theresa is a teenager who recently moved to the United States so she has an excellent perspective for understanding the differences and similarities between these countries.
There are two main languages spoken in South Korea one is its official language Korean and the other one is English. English is taught in school but mainly required in their junior high schools and high schools. Although many other countries have more variety of languages, South Korea has only two. But don’t be fooled because dialect is very different in many parts of South Korea. For example, Seoul is the capital and they also speak Korean but the dialect is totally
A nation’s innovation system is shaped by how the nation leverages its endowments—natural resources, culture, history, geography, and demographics—through policies that create a thriving market-oriented economy and accelerate the transition of new technologies, processes, and services to the market (Branscomb and Auerswald 2002). The aim of this assignment is to evaluate South Korea’s innovation policies, in light of its latest ranking as the second most innovative country in the world.