Many of us identify South Korea with the world-famous Prayer Mountain located in the countryside near the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. South Korea is among the Philippines’ biggest trading partners. In 1998, South Korea was our 5th biggest trading partner. In the same year, South Korea was also our top supplier of imports and our 11th biggest export market as well.

In response to a request of a reader of this column, I am sharing with you some interesting tidbit information about South Korea. I am sure our businessmen who are doing business or who intend to do business with South Korea will find the information useful:

• Known as the Hermit Kingdom as a result of the closed-door policy instituted in the past by Korea’s foreign overlords including the Mongolians, Chinese, and the Japanese. South Korea has a population of about 48 million. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is the commercial center of the constitutional democracy/republic. The head of the government is a prime minister while the chief of the state is a president who is elected by direct vote of the people for a term of 5 years, with no reelection;

• In South Korea, there is great respect for family, age, and rank. Like in other Asian culture, the elderly are treated with respect;

• South Koreans are proud of their language, history, and culture. Many Koreans feel insulted if gifts from Japan are given to them. It will be recalled that in 1910, Japan took over Korea and during Japan’s rule over Korea, the practice of Korean culture and language were restricted;

• While Korean is the official language of South Korea, English is widely taught in schools. This is the reason why business meetings can be conducted in English, like in our country;

• Regular business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Koreans expect the foreigners to arrange for prior appointments before the actual meetings. While business dinners are common, business breakfasts are rare;

• Like the other people in many Asian countries, Koreans avoid confrontation and open disagreement. Koreans value personal relationship in business dealings. Incidentally, complements given to Koreans by foreigners mean a lot to them;

• Koreans have a high regard for education. So often bragged by Koreans that a South Korean high school graduate knows more about math than others who are college graduates;

• Koreans prefer business cards of foreign businessmen with one side printed in English and the other side of the card printed in Korean;

• Koreans’ name consist of a family name (usually one-syllable), a generational or clan name (usually two-syllable), and a given name – in that order. Many of us are familiar with common Korean family names like Kim, Park, and Lee;

• While liquor may be given to the male gender as a gift, it is not advisable to give liquor to the female gender;

• Since Koreans often sit on the floor in homes and restaurants, foreign ladies should avoid tight skirts. It is always safer to dress modestly for informal occasions rather than wear revealing clothes. Many Koreans avoid the colors yellow and pink;

• When in a party or in other social gatherings, wait for somebody to introduce you to others whom you would like to meet. A third party should do the introduction;

• Foreign businessmen should avoid certain topics of conversation like local politics, communism, and about the culture of other countries especially Japan. A safe topic is the Korean cultural heritage;

• It is not good business practice to sign contracts or write a person’s name in red ink. More so in South Korea, since this indicates that the person is already dead;

• It is always good business practice in South Korea to bow at the beginning and at the end of a business meeting;

• South Koreans abhor loud, boisterous, and rowdy behavior. They also are irritated by noisy laughter and too much informality or overly friendly behavior. Soft-spokenness is preferred;

• While the young generation of Koreans may be open to Westernized ways, the older generations are sticklers to the traditional values. The Koreans still adhere to the Confucian religious values despite the fact that there are other religions like Buddhism and Shananism;

• Many foreigners are not aware that Koreans are sometimes direct and quick to express anger or frustration during business meetings. The foreigners should consider these as only emotional outburst and should not take everything said during the business meetings seriously;

• Koreans appreciate the gesture of foreigners to conform and adopt to Korean modes of etiquette.  This may be instrumental in clinching some business deals;

• Like Filipinos, Koreans eat plenty of garlic in their food;

• Koreans do not practice the concept of Dutch treat. To them, whoever invites pays for the cost of the dinner or other kinds of entertainment. In social occasions or business meetings, toasting, and singing is common;

• Punctuality should be practiced when doing business with Koreans. Practiced direct eye contact when talking to Koreans. It is always good manners to ask permission before smoking; and

• Foreign businessmen are familiar with big Korean companies like Daewoo, Hyundai, Samsung, and Goldstar.

Have a joyful day!