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We are told that the Internet makes concepts of time and space obsolete in many businesses. This may be partly true in principle, but the mechanics of reaching around the world and connecting with Korean consumers can be discouragingly difficult. A client recently contacted me for ideas on marketing his...
Many factors are involved in the process of applying for a new job, and one that comes into play for those trying to get a job in Korea is whether it’s possible to apply from outside Korea, or whether one needs to be physically present in Korea in order to...
I get quite a few messages from people wanting specific answers about business in Korea and this week I received virtually the same somewhat unusual question twice. Apparently some Westerners planning to speak to a Korean audience want to share extended thoughts in Korean, even though they don’t know Korean....
We’ve all heard about the Asian concept of “saving face” or “losing face”. But I wonder sometimes if it shouldn’t be referred to as a “pseudo-Asian concept”. For my full exploration of the topic: “Reflections on Face and What It Really Means for Life and Business in Korea”. But if...
Koreans are generally quite understanding about communications and cultural issues. After all, for historical reasons, Koreans have come to expect that they will have to do more to adjust to other cultures than others will do to adapt to their culture (unlike Americans, for instance!) However, I’m assuming here that...
Rich DeBourke is Principal Consultant at SBF Consulting. With over thirty years sales and marketing experience, focusing since 1995 on the Korean and Asia markets, selling multi-million dollar capital equipment systems. His background includes presenting at industrial seminars throughout Asia, including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China, as well as delivering...
Gift-giving is deeply embedded in the Korean culture, both in and out of the office. Because of the importance of gift-giving, an entire module of the Business Culture Fundamentals Specialization of the KBC Professional Certification Program deals with it. Recently, KBC Member Rich DeBourke took the time to send me...
If you’ve been doing business in Korea for any time at all, you’ve probably come across some strange English (aka “Konglish). But errors can happen while translating from English into Korean, too, and you should be sure to follow best practices when handling your company’s Korean translation projects. I regularly...
It can be just plain tough to find a job in Korea. If you’re looking for a job here, your chances of finding one depend on your answer to the following question: “What sets you radically apart from any of the countless young Korean professionals currently looking for a job...
It is surprisingly easy to generalize about certain organizational practices in both large and small Korean companies. These are described in my Executive Report: “Succeed in Korean Business by Understanding Korean Company Hierarchy” (Available in the KBC Business Library). In a recent email discussion with an international executive recruiter working...
