Korean Workplace Etiquette

Contents

• Respect
• Office Refreshments
• Refreshments_During Business Meetings
• Gifts
• Business Entertaining
• Who Pays?
• Tipping
• Drinking
• The Role Drinking Plays
• Drinking Customs
• Drinking Rules
• Drinking Too Much
• The Role of Women in Social Drinking
• Singing - Karaoke
• Dress

As a foreigner, you will not be expected to follow Korean etiquette to the letter. But there are a few differences you would do well to remember.

Respect

The person occupying the highest status in an organisation, such as company president or owner, deserves complete respect. His or her needs and desires traditionally come before any other aspect of the business. Employees are to be ready and willing to assist him or her at any time, in any way.
If you work for a Korean president, owner or principal, he or she probably will not expect you to follow the Korean rules of behaviour, but you should not forget that his or her position is higher than yours, and you are not equal in any sense.

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Office Refreshments

Whenever you visit someone's office, you will be served something to drink. You will often not be asked beforehand what you would prefer, but it is impolite to refuse what you are offered. You will not always be asked which kind of drink you want or how you prefer your coffee or tea.
Likewise, when someone comes to your office, you should serve them something. It is not necessary to ask your guests what they want. Korean secretaries are accustomed to preparing coffee or fruit juice, but some more educated ones may not like serving drinks. If you have this situation, delegate the job to another person in the office; it would not be proper for you to make or serve refreshments.

Refreshments During Business Meetings

• Don't accept too eagerly; refuse the first offer
• Follow your host's lead
• It is considered impolite not to drink
• Sometimes you will not be given the selection of
  refreshments most Westerners are used to

Gifts

Gifts area common way of showing appreciation, or getting someone to view you more favourably. They are sometimes given during important Korean holidays, such as the New Years, Lunar New year and Chusok. If you receive a gift at such times, it is important that you send a reciprocal gift. It is sometimes appropriate to bring a gift when visiting someone's office, as well, particularly if you have been abroad recently.

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Business Entertaining

As in other countries, entertaining is an important part of doing business in Korea. The only difference is the degree to which entertaining seems necessary.

To begin a business relationship with someone, one generally dines and drinks. Then, to solidify the relationship, regular socialising is necessary. During negotiations, drinking and dining can soothe the way for easier discussions. And finally, after a business agreement has been made, regular social contact is kinks appear, there will be a relationship of friendship and trust to fall back on to solve problems amicably.

Do not overlook the role of alcohol. Drinking with someone is a sign of trust and drinking a lot with someone breaks down social barriers quickly. You may be surprised at how much easier business becomes, within and outside your own organisation, after a night of hard drinking. A person who drinks much may be viewed as more trustworthy.

A lot, perhaps even the majority, of business is conducted outside the office. To Koreans, the mood or the social atmosphere (the Korean gibun) is extremely important. Therefore, significant amounts of money are spent to create a conducive atmosphere. This always includes outstanding food, plenty of alcohol and sometimes beautiful women. Today, some younger Koreans are beginning to resist the expectations for heavy socialising and drinking.

When you are treated to one of these delightful evenings, it is important that you also invite your host to a similar event. Failing to reciprocate would show you to be greedy. This form of socialising is usually done in groups and includes several people from the businesses concerned. When people of equal status go out, they alternate who pays the whole bill, which in turn enhances a sense of closeness and goodwill between colleagues.

Who Pays?

In Korea the rule is quite simple: the person who invites pays. Even among close friends, it is considered impolite to 'go Dutch'. Anyone close enough to eat a meal with someone would certainly be willing and eager to pay for the meal and the person with the highest status tends to do the inviting and the paying. Among Korean men and women of equal status, there seems to be a kind of unspoken calculation so that all people end up treating each other to an equal amount. It is also quite common for people of a lesser status and means to treat their superiors when the cost is lower. For example, after an expensive meal has been paid for by the higher status person, the lesser status person may then pay for coffee at a different restaurant.

Tipping

Tips are not expected in Korea. Guests are treated kindly because they are guests, and not with the expectation of gaining a tip. Hotels do add a 10 per cent service charge and a 10 per cent tax onto the bill automatically. The money paid to hostesses who accompany customers is also called a tip, but it is often set in advance. It is not necessary to tip anywhere else.

Going To Multiple Establishments

It is quite common for Koreans to frequent several places in the course of an evening. First, they may meet at a cafe, whilst waiting for everyone to arrive. Next, they might move to a place to eat the main course of the meal, followed by one, or more commonly several, drinking places. Individuals take turns at paying the whole bill at each establishment.

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Drinking

While the role of alcohol has diminished somewhat in recent years, for many Korean men drinking remains an integral part of having fun. Whether attending a one­hundred-day celebration, camping out, socialising or trying to establish an amicable business hard liquor, an increasing number of wines and traditional Korean alcoholic beverages are the most popular.

The Role Drinking Plays

Any reason is a good reason for saying "Han than hapshida!" ("Let's have a drink") Many Korean men believe that the best way to get to know a person is to drink with him. They believe that adults show the world a kind of mask, appearing to be as others expect them to be. To know a person's true self, they must see him 'under the influence'.

Drinking is often a necessary prelude to most business. It may be difficult to trust a business partner until a few drinks have been shared. Sometimes the only way to resolve a sensitive problem or to close a touchy business deal is over a generous amount of wine. People who do not drink as much as their counterparts are sometimes thought to be hiding something, afraid to let down their defences. Many Koreans would prefer not to drink so much, but not to drink, or to stop drinking too soon might ruin the mood for everyone. In terms of etiquette, it is particularly difficult for someone of a lower status to turn down a request to drink from someone of a higher status.

This emphasis on drinking for social and business reasons goes back to the Unified Silla period, if not before. There are even Confucian ceremonies demonstrating the proper way to become drunk. Fortunately, there is a trend today amongst younger Koreans to move away from such heavy drinking. Abstinence or moderate consumption is more acceptable in the younger crowds than it is for people in the older generation. Still, drinking continues to pervade many aspects of the lives of most Korean males.

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Drinking Customs

The expatriate may be baffled the first time he goes drinking with a Korean. Your friend will be happy to show you Korean drinking customs and, if you get it wrong, Koreans will understand as long as it is clear you are trying hard to learn. Eventually it will become second nature to you.

Drinking Rules

• The person of lower status, or the host of the event, will offer an empty glass to the most honoured person.
• If the status or age difference is very great, he will offer the glass with two hands, or support the right hand with the left.
• The person receiving the glass, depending on his status, will also receive it with two hands or with the right supported by the left.
• The giver then pours the alcohol into the glass held by the receiver.
• As the drinking continues, everyone is offered a glass, which is then filled.
• After one finishes one's own glass, it is customary to give the same glass to another person. During the course of an evening, people are careful to exchange glasses with everyone else.
• One should not add alcohol to a glass that is partially filled, or fill one's own glass.

Luckily, with all this drinking, food is also consumed. Appetisers, collectively called anjoo, may include dried beef, dried fish, nuts or even fruit. Some places offer an anjoo menu. At other places, anjoo is brought to your table even if it is not ordered, but be careful as it is not free of charge.

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Refusing A Drink

Considering the amount of alcohol imbibed, there may be times when one is tempted to refuse. This borders on anti­social behaviour. Koreans have the same problem, as there is often one person urging everyone else to drink one more glass, but being Koreans, they go ahead and drink, even if it means becoming sick.

An expatriate has the advantage of being able to fall back on his culture, to some extent, to minimise his drinking. A wife at home is a better excuse for an expatriate than for a Korean. Some foreigners and Koreans have poured unwanted alcohol surreptitiously into a local plant. In less refined establishments, alcohol could be spilt, quite discreetly, of course (In Korea there is the concept of a "spitting cup". Often this is just your glass of water. You take a mouthful of alcohol, but do not swallow it, then pick up your water glass, and spit the alcohol into your water glass.). Holding a full glass and drinking slowly also makes it less likely that another will be poured for you. If all else fails, you can say you are taking traditional Korean hanyak (medicine) and so cannot drink. You may also say your religion prohibits or discourages consuming alcohol. This is an acceptable excuse among Korean men but it also makes social relationships more difficult.

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Drinking Too Much

While some degree of control should be kept, no matter how much is consumed, one sometimes sees a person who, by Western standards, has lost control. Physical fights, loud arguing and men supporting their far-gone drinking buddy are features of popular drinking areas. In apartment blocks, understanding neighbors are expected to tolerate loud laughter, singing and fights. It is unthinkable to call the police to curb the disturbance and most drunken bad behavior is excused—drinking is considered an acceptable way to deal with pent up frustration or anger.

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The Role of Women in Social Drinking

Traditionally, a good Korean woman didn't drink. However, this custom is changing, especially among college women who often enjoy drinking alongside their male classmates. Younger, married women can be found drinking moderately with their friends or husbands, but serious drinking is still mostly left to the men.

Women who are found in some drinking establishments are considered to be a different sort. These young, beautiful females are hired to sit with an equal number of men, pour their drinks and make friendly conversation. The price of their company is not cheap so usually it is paid for by the men's boss but do not confuse them with prostitutes. It goes without saying that wives and girlfriends are not welcome at such places

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Singing - Karaoke

As mentioned already, when Koreans drink, it is rarelyjust one beer after a hard day's work. Oblivious to the responsibility of work the morning after, drinking often continues late into the night and, as the evening progresses, the most honoured person will be usually be asked to sing a solo.

To the expatriate, this can be quite an unnerving experience. It does not matter if you cannot sing: just make sure you know the words to one short song. There have been cases when an innocent foreigner has managed to avoid singing, but remember this is done at some social cost. It is far better to sing a few lines of 'Row, row, row your boat' or 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star' and be done with it.

Sometimes, listening to other singers can be worse than singing yourself. The majority of Koreans sing exceptionally well, and their presentation can be interesting, but when all you want to do is go home, and every one of your 15 companions is waiting to perform, you will not find it so entertaining.

The karaoke bar, called a noraebang or singing room, is widely enjoyed in Korea by people of all ages. Most noraebangs have rooms where groups of 10-20 people can gather in front of a video screen which flashes words to music, including some English songs. For a few moments, the most ordinary person can pretend to be a famous singer. The room is paid for by the hour and you can buy alcoholic beverages or soft drinks and snacks.

Dress

Generally, dress conservatively. Koreans will dress so as NOT to call attention to themselves. Westerners may introduce some variety, but do not push the envelope too far. A little difference will be considered positive, if curious. Depending on your job function, you may be issued a company uniform, if so ask if it is manditory or optional.

Men

Men should dress conservatively. Most Korean men will wear white shirts and blue suits. While westerners may do the same, westerners are accorded a bit of tolerance concerning their dress. A colored shirt or non-blue suit will usually be viewed as an acceptable deviation from the norm and a positive sign of individuality. However, take care not to take this too far.

Women

Women should also dress conservatively; colors are fine, but avoid low cut blouses or skirts that are too short.

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