Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Letsbehonestaboutit]

Did anybody read the article in the Korea Herald, Wednesday, October 15, by Kim Seong-Kon, the columnist who writes the "Kaleidoscope" column.

What a breath of fresh air, pulling no punches about how the Korean mentality has to change to accomodate others if Korea wants to get anywhere in the world.

He discusses many aspects of the Korean pysche and behaviour which, he asserts, is totally incompatible with the global norm, and suggests that one of the main reasons for this is a naive assumption on the part of many Koreans that "Korea is the focal part of the world."

One of the most interesting and worrying of the "inscrutable phenomena" he points out about the Korean psyche is the "puzzling view that Koreans confuse a sly person with a smart one, or a cunning person with a brainy one. Koreans tend to think that someone who outwits another is undoubtedly intelligent. As a result, sly dogs and swindlers are frequently praised as being smart. Even those who successfully cheat others are often admired as having brilliant minds."

He cites some of Korea's former presidents (and no doubt government ministers) who have come into this category ("dumb as oxen...but considered to be very intelligent because they were sly) and warns Koreans that "if you think and act in that manner, you cannot flourish in the international business circle, which is based on credit, honesty and mutual trust.

He concludes by saying that, "As Korean citizens, we should continue to hold our our culture and values strong, but as global citizens, we need to keep our minds open and be compatible with others. We are one piece of a puzzle that makes up the whole world.

Bravo! I salute you, sir! Well said!

PS: the Korean mindset that "swindling and cheating people" is somehow clever and intelligent dominates daily life and business in Korea. It's mindblowing and dumbfounding to think that Koreans can actually attribute intelligence to a person who, for no other reason than to get ahead at the expense of another, would treat them like sh#t in order to do so.

Personally speaking, this whole "saving face" thing is an aspect of this. It's is a cop out from accepting personal responsibility and being accountable for anything; an excuse to lie, shift blame and "pass the buck" to others. If you make a mistake, be honourable enough to admit it, apologise, and learn from it. Don't deny, defame others, twist things around, shamelessly lie and claim misunderstanding to get yourself off the hook and put another on it!