Doing Business in South Korea

Introduction

This memo is designed to give the reader a better understanding of Korean business culture. An entire book is not enough to make one an expert on the cultural perspectives of doing business in a particular country, much less a five-page memo. Indeed, no book or memo can teach how to do business in another country. That can only be taught by experiential learning and continued business interaction with another person from that culture.

While peoples in the Far East share many cultural traditions, it is a mistake to assume that all Asians are alike. This stems from the fact that different Asian countries’ traditions, mores, and cultures have been impacted by different factors. Therefore, adjusting specifically to Korean culture, not Asian culture, is key to business success in Korea.

Therefore, this memo discusses the following:

	Brief History
	Economy
	Culture and Religion
	Setting-Up the First Contact
	Meeting for the First Time
	Meeting and Negotiating Over Meals
	Kibun: Harmony and Maintenance of Good Feelings
	Business Timeline and Conclusion

For proper credits, I have also included these:

	Sources
	Notes