Understanding
the Korean Thought Process
Source: pixabay
How
Korean people think, classify, and organize differs from many other countries. These differences stem from language, Confucianism
and traditional units of measure.
"One
must listen till the end of a Korean sentence!" is a famous Korean saying,
because most often, the main message is at the end. In business, this can delay
getting to the point. However, this is embedded in culture and is not likely to
change. Listening till the end of the sentence in conversation and reading till
the end of the email are important for effective communication.
Grammar
is a key element of communication. The
verb is found at the end of the sentence.
In English, the sentence structure is 'subject, verb, object'. In Korean, the sequence is 'subject (often
omitted), object, verb'. The relevant action
appears at the end of the sentence.
The
Korean numbering system can also be confusing to foreigners. Large numbers are grouped into 10,000 (Man만) while Western countries group them into
thousands (1,000). When a Korean wishes
to express a large number, in his brain, the number is a multiple of 10,000,
say 35,0000,0000 or 35 X 10,000 X 10,000.
When he wishes to express this number into English, he must first
calculate it into 1000s and then translate it into English 3.5 X 1000 X 1000 X
1000. During this process, it is easy to
misplace the comma / decimal point. When
the conversation is about money, mistranslations can lead to confusion and
distrust. Therefore, if a Korean is slow to communicate numbers, keep in mind
that they have to go through a multistep calculation process. One solution is
to write out numbers in full with the correct number of zeros to reduce the
possibility of error.
Units
of weight and measure are another potential for confusion. Korea uses the metric system and Koreans are
unfamiliar with imperial measures such as inches and feet, ounces and
pounds. On top of this, there are still
some traditional units commonly used in Korea. A 'geun' (근) is a unit of weight approximately 600 grams. This unit is primarily applied to meat and
especially in butcher shops.
Supermarkets will use grams and kilos. Land area was traditionally
measured in 'pyeong' (평) which is
approximately 3.3 m2 or 36 square feet. Although official documents now require that
all real estate records and transactions be measured in m2, pyeong
is commonly used in conversation and the official Statistics Korea database still
categorizes real estate in pyeong. There are other traditional units and values
used for classification in Korea than can also contribute to confusion and
mis-communication.
Confucianism
was introduced to Korea many centuries ago but became the official philosophy
of the Chosun Dynasty (1392 ~ 1910).
While Confucian principles are ebbing to a degree, they form the
foundation of interpersonal interactions.
Many Confucian principles continue to have significant influence on behavior.
The most visible vestige of Confucianism is hierarchy and the respect for the
elderly. There is a firm line between older
and younger (even for minor differences in age), where the younger is required
to respect the older (and the older is supposed to look out for the younger). In
business, this is evident in meetings when the most senior person does all the
talking and everyone else sits in silence (unless asked to explain
something). Employees are hired straight
out of university and remain with the firm for life. Promotions are based on age / longevity with
the company. This tradition is certainly
breaking down so the 'old rules' don't always apply. In some teams, the leader is not always the
most senior. New hires are brought into
the company at mid or even executive levels for their expertise. In fact,
business has become more complicated, not less as skill and experience are
required to ascertain whether traditional rules apply or if the company has
adopted a more progressive organizational structure.
Difference
in classification, organizing and thinking can lead to misunderstandings and
poor decision making. IRC Consulting has a 40-year history navigating the
complexities of the Korean market. Let
IRC guide your way to reach your destination safely, efficiently and
effectively.
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