Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Comatosed]

Hey everyone,

I work for a large, global ship building company down South and one of my Korean coworkers asked if I could come up with some ideas on how Koreans need to change their attitudes and behaviors in order to fit in better with Western business culture and practices.

Just think, if you could change something about how bosses, co-workers, shop owners, service reps treat you here in Korea what would it be? If you have personal experiences to share even better!

Thanks,
Comatosed

[MalFSU1]

No one should be able to take advantage of someone simply because they are older than them, especially if they both hold basically the same position.

[Ramen]

Nothing. Everything is good in Korea. Korea #1.

[ticktocktocktick]

A contract is a contract is a contract. Not something your boss wipes with.

Forward planning, and western-style work hours too.

[Janny]

1. Learn how to do "long-term planning" and "contingency planning"
2. Don't make people work when they're sick
3. Respect and listen to input / ideas from people lower down the ladder

[Fishead soup]

When people have nothing to do let them go home don't force them to hang around and look busy.

Try to be generous with vacations.

Keep a folder of all your personel employee's that have all their records including Criminal Background checks, Educational degree's and transcripts so you don't have to ask for them again. Keep these in a secure place and have someone to be held accountable if these things are ever lost.

[tiger fancini]

Sort out paid annual leave.

Understand that, 90% of the time, a happy employee is a good employee.

Don't use stupid English slogans that haven't been verified by an intelligent native speaker.

I also agree with the planning suggestions. One thing that continuously amazes me about Korea is the idea that if the Man-In-Charge decides that something should happen, then it automatically follows that it will happen without any planning or strategy.

[AsiaESLbound]

[ulsanchris]

Tell them to keep an open mind.
Tell them not to assume that foreigners will know about Korean customs or they way koreans do things. This can be tricky because it includes a lot of things that people don't think about too much. For example Koreans might assume that everyone knows about white day when it is only celebrated in Korea and Japan.
Tell them not to laugh at the foreigner if he doesn't act or do things that Korean men do. For example, I've been laughed at by korean men when they find out that I make my own breakfast, instead of my wife making breakfast for me.

For the people telling him to advise his boss to be more organized and such; he works for a global shipbuilding company, not a hagwon. One would hope that they are organized, and have a more professional attitude.

[Comatosed]

-Make Korean websites firefox and mac friendly and eliminate all the text embedded into graphics, animated gifs and active X security checks one has to jump though.

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I just signed up for NH online banking today. What a maze of garbage you have to navigate through - and I know it's just the facade of security.

TD Canada Trust Active X Installs 0 -- NH 5
TD Canada Trust Passwords 1 -- NH 3
TD Canada Trust Supported Browsers 3 -- NH 1
TD Canada Trust Online Banking Setup Time 10 Minutes -- NH 120 Minutes
TD Canada Trust Incidences of fraud on my account 0 -- NH 0

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[oldfatfarang]

- Be 'on time' with Westerners. Explain that Westerners and Koreans have very different concepts/attitudes to 'time'.

- Explain working hours (paid) and non working hours (relaxing, non paid) time.

- Explain the 3 Eights: 8 hours work, 8 hours rest and 8 hours sleep.

- Explain, don't ever lie to Westerners. Explain even a small lie will completely destroy your relationship in one second flat. Explain that Westerners will never trust anyone again if they lie to them.

- Explain the importance of a written contract. That Westerners think this is a written, legal agreement between two parties, and that both parties are expected to honor the contract. Explain that changes can only be made with negotiation between both parties.

- Finally, and delicately, perhaps you should explain how not understanding (and practicing) the above will negatively impact on their business (profits) and the long-term future of Korean business abroad.

Good luck with the last one.

[Bucky]

Never try to send memos and documents to non-Koreans in .hwp format. Always default to .doc format.

Just a small pet peeve I have.

[Steelrails]

[NYC_Gal]

[Chet Wautlands]