Korean Work Culture Case Study

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Recommended: Contrast China and Korea

Concept of Korean Work Culture

This chapter defines in detail Korean work culture, its main characteristics explained from various perspectives. It is necessary to define the culture, because without it, it would be impossible to understand the behaviour and management practices, which prevail in Korea. Therefore, Table 2 presents Hofstede’s 6D model, which provides insight on the Korean work culture, known for being highly authoritative with importance on one's family which can be also the family at work, desire to achieve and compete, but also willingness to work hard (Hamilton & Biggart, 1988) and comparing it against Japan and China.

Table 2: Hofstede’s 6D Model Cultural Comparison, ITIM , n.d.

Power Distance Index (PDI)
Korea …show more content…

It suggests a considerably strong collectivism, signifying that individualistic approaches might not be supported or preferred, advocating that Korean companies implement a rigorous group orientation. Moreover, promotion of employees is based on group decision and collective achievements are preferred over individual ones (White & Lehman, 2005, Hofstede, 2001, Triandis, 1996, 1989, Markus & Kitayama, 1991). However, Hofstede’s model does not specify if Korean culture is Horizontal Collectivism (HC) or Vertical Collectivism (VC), henceforth further investigation was needed. Although, from the PDI results, it is possible to conclude that in Korean culture prevails VC, signifying that people comply with authorities authorities and follow a strict hierarchy sacrificing their personal goals (Shavitt, et al. 2010, Triandis and Gelfand 1998, Triandis 1995 cited in Triandis, 1996, Singelis et al. 1995). Triandis (1996) and Triandis and Gelfand (1998) esteemed that if more benevolence is added to the VC system it naturally changes to HC, which is more equal in terms of interacting with people. As acknowledged by Triandis (1996), Singelis et al. (1995) and Triandis and Gelfand (1998) HC includes benevolence and universalism, but for traditional societies like those of Far East Asia it is more common to have VC, which dwells profoundly on power and achievement. This incorporates deferring to power and maintaining harmony (inhwa, 인화) because in collectivist cultures like in Korea it is more important to keep balance than satisfying personal needs within a group. Accordingly, preserving collectivism, might be related to status maintenance, which still has a strong position within Korean society (Marcus & Kitayama, 1991, Aycan, 2006, Shavitt et al., 2010, Han et al. 2016). This includes preference for luxury brands, impressing others through education history or work background and based on those,

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