KOREA CULTURE BUSINESS LANGUAGE People The Mongolian race

KOREA CULTURE & BUSINESS LANGUAGE

People • The Mongolian race • Population - South Korean: 50, 000 - North Korean: 20, 000

Official language • Korean, • English widely taught in middle school and high school

Land climate • • • Capital city: Seoul Han Gang River 70 percent mountainous) 3, 000 islands Jeju island: semi- tropical • Four distinct seasons

Korean national flag (Tae-gukgi)

History • 5, 000 years history • Japanese occupation (1910 -1945) • Korean War (1950) • South Korea: Democratic Government • North Korea: Communist Regime (DPRK)

Food and drink • Rice • Kimchi • Bulgogi

Housing • Traditional straw or tile-roofed houses • Ondol

Money • Korea's currency is the won (₩) ex) ￡ 1 = ₩ 1, 870 Coins: 1 won, 5 won, 10 won, 50 won, 100 won, 500 won Notes: 1, 000 won, old 5, 000 won, new 5, 000 won, 10, 000 won

Religion • Buddhism • Confusianism • Christianity

Education • • Primary school : six years Middle school : three years High school : three years Those who pass the national exam go on to 4 -year colleges or universities.

Clothes • Hanbok : traditional costume • Rubber shoes

Tae-kwon-do (self defense martial art) • Taekwondo is an Officially acknowledged international sport that originated in Korea

Jinseng • Ginseng is a medicinal plant with wondrous powers. • Goryeo ginseng

Sorak-san ( mountain) • With its high craggy peaks, boulder-strewn streams of crystal clear water, large waterfalls, unusual rock formations, and forests of pine and hardwood.

Korean holidays • • • • Solar New Year's-January 1 st and 2 nd Independence Movement Day- March 1 Arbor Day- April 5 Children's Day- May 5 Memorial Day- June 6 Constitution Day- July 17 Liberation Day- August 15 Foundation Day- October 3 Christmas Day-December 25 Lunar New Year's (Seol-nal)- 1 st day of an year. Buddha's Birthday (Seokka Tanshin-il)- 8 th day of 4 th month Harvest Moon Festival (Chuesok)- 14 -16 th days of 8 th month

Culture • Drinking (Confucian ethics) • Group Consciousness rather than individualism

Business and social culture • Confucianism • Personal relationship • Vertical social structure • Respect, Age, Both hands

Korean business etiquette (Do's and Don'ts) • Do maintain an element of modesty and humility • Do refrain from being overly impatient. • DON’T address a Korea by his or her given name • DON’T display criticism in public

Formal introduction • Always have business cards • Forms of address • Gift giving • Contact, shaking hands

Quiz- true or false • The number 4 is considered to be unlucky in Korea. Therefore, one must never give a gift made up of 4 items.

Quiz- true or false • When entering a group meeting in Korea, the senior member of your party should enter the room first, then the next highest ranking person and so on. Koreans will also be seated according to rank.

Quiz- true or false • The colour red symbolises prosperity and happiness in Korea. Writing a person’s name in red ink means they will have success in the future.

Quiz- true or false • When visiting a Korean family home it is vital to take off your shoes when first entering the house in order not to offend your host.

Quiz- true or false • When entering a Korean home, remove your shoes.

Some important tips • Never force your Korean Counterpart to lose face • Don't be too pushy • Be sure that you've been understood

Korean cultural &business etiquette • DO maintain an element of modesty and humility • DO refrain from being overly impatient • DON’T display criticism in public • Don’t talk or laugh loudly