Saturday October 9 is a National Holiday in South Korea — Hangul Day. (As this year the holiday falls on weekend, Monday is celebrated a National Holiday, too).
Hangul Day commemorates the invention and proclamation of Hangul, the alphabet of the Korean language. This commentary will provide some insights into not only Korea, but their native written language. For a online version see https://seoulz.com/how-the-digitization-of-hangul-contributed-to-koreas-economic-rise/
We often see terms like “Miracle on the Han,” that highlight South Korea’s economic rise after decades of harsh Japanese colonial rule and then the devastation of the Korean War.
With only determination and its people as resources, Korea became one of the world’s top industrial, export-driven economies. In particular, the main contributions to this success story include the nation’s emphasis on higher education, as well as the role of government and private investment in innovation, technology, and R&D.
Looking deeper, what may be missed is the impact of digitizing the native written language Hangul. Crafted in the mid 15th century during the reign of King Sejeong. Hangul linguistically is seen as a very logical and structured written language script.
Inspired by a vision to make Korea information independent
Jumping forward, it was in the early 1990s that a local Korean company, today’s Hancom, successfully developed a native word processing program for the Korean language.
As Hangul was created so that the common people could accurately and easily read and write the Korean language, so too, the word processing software allowed Koreans to communicate digitally.
Although the Hangul word processing software grew in popularity, by 1998, the company nearly went bust, even though it was considered a national treasure: the Asian Financial Crisis and software piracy had brought the company to its knees.
Rival Microsoft which had only about 15% market penetration in office software at the time in Korea, offered $20 million to Hancom to stop producing its software and instead resell Microsoft’s localized Word program.
For a small investment, Microsoft would have wiped out their main competitor in Korea, one of the few countries in the world that had still resisted wide adoption of Microsoft’s office suite.
When the news of the proposed deal offering surfaced, Koreans united in a national fervor and raised over $10 million through a campaign to save the company.
In addition, the company’s near-bankruptcy brought the issue of software piracy under the spotlight. As a result, Koreans began to pay for their software and more began to adopt and use the Hangul software in Korea.
An Economic Driver
With the rise of globalization, and Korea as a nation leapfrogging economically, experts attribute much of the growth to the streamlining of both government policy and regulations. This was possible with a universally accepted digitalized Hangul well suited to the E-Government transfer of information. E-Government refers to a government that uses technological communications devices, such as computers and the Internet, to provide public services in a country or region.
This has also given Korea a strong competitive advantage — data management critical in the digital age.
Looking forward, South Korea today is at the forefront of AI and Cloud-based technology. That said, one may argue that many under-developed nations, most with their own indigenous languages, too, could follow Korea’s digitalization model.
Globally, South Korea and Korean business are well-positioned to support this and similar endeavors — as the Korean proverb noted — A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.
I often say Similar bring us together
Global business requires colleagues of different cultures to work together on a daily basis.
How we see each other culturally is often in the differences, like language and in similarities such as shared values like family. I like to focus on the later; as differences can pull us apart and similarities brings us together.
Particularly for western teams engaged in all ways with Korean operations, I believe in the importance of deep learning about the workplace in Korea — the 2021 norms, practices, and day-to-day life. They do change and most often we can get fixed on what could have been tainted by here say — or an altogether lack of understanding.
The same learning goes for Korean global teams assigned to support overseas’ operations. They need to become learners — savvy in the wide range of local overseas practices. Expecting global teams to bend to Korean business norms rarely works, too. It just leads to delays and stalled projects.
As I note above, recognizing similarities is one of the most powerful cross-cultural bridges. In other words, how can you relate to the nuances in communications and day-to-day life. This requires identifying the local beliefs, values, expectations, traditions, and culture.
These insights allow us to better understand our mutual teams’ thoughts and expectations.
Outcomes
Although there is bound to be friction between home and host country cultural values, a successful model accomplishes:
1. Awareness and appreciation of both the home and host country with the ability to gain an insight into one’s own personal traits, strengths, weaknesses, attitudes, and interests.
2. Realization of shared values, along with an awareness of and respect for cultural differences.
Call to Action
So, how do you see this applying to you and your own experiences working with another culture’s teams? I’d like to know, so please share.
Dealing with better understanding Korea-facing issues, challenges, or impasses? I provide workarounds and solutions.
I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and with no COVID travel planned have set aside time to discuss one on one.
Always Private and Confidential. Please feel free to FB or Linkedin Message, Text or email to set up a Zoom time.
One popular Korean Lunar New Year tradition is 세배 (sebae), which is respect for elders and ancestors. In the ritual families often travel to the family graves to show their respect.
Also common is younger people will bow to their grandparents. They then wish them a happy New Year by saying: sae hae bok mani badeu say yo (새해 복 많이 받으세요. ) Which translates as “Please receive good fortune for the New Year.”
In turn, the elders typically reward this gesture by giving children New Year’s money, or “pocket money” called Sebaet Don, usually new crisp paper money.
To learn more, go this week’s post in YouTube
It’s that time of the year with Chuseok, (the Korean Harvest Moon Festival) right around the corner.
This year, Chuseok will be observed Sept. 12-14, with the holiday on Friday, and the day before and after celebrated as National Holidays, too.
Koreans, like many agrarian cultures, once followed the lunar calendar, but in recent history, they have deferred to the solar calendar in line with international practice.
While public holidays are based on the solar calendar, there are a few days that are celebrated based on the lunar calendar.
These are the two most important traditional holidays, the Korean New Year’s Day (the first day of the first lunar month) and Chuseok, the Harvest Moon Festival (fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month).
En mass a substantial part of the population travel. For many, this means going back to their home villages. Over the holiday they perform ancestral rituals at the graves of relatives as well as share time with their family over traditional foods. Others may opt to travel overseas, or a popular trend has been to staycation in a luxury hotel.
For your Korean colleagues (in Korea), you can wish them a happy Chuseok while they are still in their office, so this coming Tuesday, September 11 in the West (which will be Wednesday AM in Korea).
Again, for most Koreans the holiday break will begin Wednesday Korea time at the end of day through the weekend. Some may take extra days off that week.
For expat Koreans working outside Korea, you can wish them happy Chuseok on the actual holiday, Friday September 13.
If you’d like to try, here’s a common greeting:
Chuseok jal ji nae sae yo.
Happy Chuseok works fine, too.
Even though many things have been changed by Korea’s rapid industrialization, urbanization, and globalization we find in the celebration of Chuseok that family remains one of the bedrocks of Korean society.
Please read!
I hope you find value in my Korea facing updates and analysis; information that impacts you, your teams, and company. Staying on top of the issues and breaking news makes large demands on my time. With so much transition currently underway in Korea and within their global organizations we’ll actually see an acceleration in change—one all will find challenging, Koreans and Westerners.
In order to continue providing the very best content and insights, I could really use your help. Frankly this means making sure we are engaged throughout the year with either one of my onboarding, mentoring and coaching programs, the Korea 101 workshops, or as a trusted advisor.
Your voice and support matters and is much appreciated.
Don
Each year March 1st is celebrated as a South Korean National Holiday—this year, the 100th anniversary, of greater significance– a Day in Korean History.
Some context regarding its significance.
We herewith proclaim the independence of Korea and the liberty of the Korean people
This we proclaim to all the nations of the world in witness of human equality. This we proclaim to our descendants so that they may enjoy in perpetuity their inherent right to nationhood
In as much as this proclamation originates from our five-thousand-year history, in as much as it springs from the loyalty of twenty million people, in as much as it affirms our yearning for the advancement of everlasting liberty, in as much as it expresses our desire to take part in the global reform rooted in human conscience, it is the solemn will of heaven, the great tide of our age, and a just act necessary for the co-existence of all humankind.
Therefore, no power in this world can obstruct or suppress it!
The above was the manifesto read by Korean independence activists on March 1, 1919.
It was one of the earliest public displays of Korean resistance to repressive Japanese Colonial Rule. Sadly, it would not be until the end of the Second World War, the defeat of Japan and the end of decades of suppression that Korea would regain its independence.
Questions? mailto: dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
Collaboration. We hear the term promoted both as a core value and expectation in Korean global business. For me, it’s building a solid relationship with Korean teams—one by one.
In fact, whenever I take on a new Korea facing project, I seek out a team member, first as a point of contact and then someone I can strengthen the relationship building trust and mutual understanding. This can include daily chats by phone, email and Kakao.
In most cases, over time I add layers of support … understanding they are in a tough place… at times having to relay requests and demands they themselves may not clearly agree but nevertheless need to communicate.
In particular, I’ve found they may not be familiar with the project nuances—in contrast the experienced Western team. In my role, and to build the relationship I work as the go-between, mentoring and even share (confidentially) how to best frame their company’s issues and avoid if handled poorly what could result in an impasse.
Collaboration, all said, is about relationships, nurtured over time, and built on seeing a project through for both sides mutual benefits as well as the individual tied to the undertaking.
Thoughts, questions, comments? Share at questions@koreabcw.com
A respected colleague shared their thoughts on last week’s commentary “Hit the Target”—noting is was “a timely topic!” “… Especially as we enter the fourth quarter…”
Several readers also chimed in– lamenting that local leadership and teams receive little guidance in HOW to hit the target.
To add some context, HOW has considerable to do with Korean workplace culture norms. Leaders give directives, and teams execute in a top down manner. In some cases, well meaning leaders withhold detailed instructions to empower their teams to work through it themselves…. In other cases, some in less progressive management feel there are being paid to do a job…. And teams need to struggle like they themselves had earlier in their careers… While others recognize providing direction may be efficient, but hope their team will find new and better ways to tackle the challenge. In particular, some form of “hail Mary” that drives sales and even better at a low cost.
Frankly, demands today on Korean export driven business have pushed and stretched teams. Many feel they are operating at maximum with little room for additional market share or sales.
Risk avoidance adds another layer when new ideas are presented, too.
Under these circumstances I have two recommendations.
Care to discuss solutions? My personal assistant Stacey at stacey@koreabcw.com can coordinate a time for us to chat by phone, meet or handle by email.
It’s hard not to be a watchdog for Korean facing issues that grow in concern and could potential have a global impact on the organizations and clients I support.
In an interview for an upcoming segment for the Korean media show “Koreascape” on globalization, I was also asked for my opinion on the recent drama within Lotte, Korea 5th largest chaebol over control of the Group. The host Kurt Achin, a seasoned journalist, shared concern over the bold move by one of the Founder’s son to take control of the Group, which has drawn considerable media and popular notice to the ongoing issue of succession among the chaebol. This media attention has not only been limited to Korea, but showed up on Page 1 of the WSJ as well as AP and the other leading wire and new service. [BTW Lotte is Korea’s largest retail, distribution, tourism and construction Group with a growing international presence and annual sales estimated at more than $100 billion. Also, Chaebol is a common South Korean term for their conglomerates, often multinational, global enterprises led by a Chairman and in most instances family controlled.]
This brings us to a media summary on the topic of Korean Family Succession, as well as a FAQ sharing my thoughts.
To prefix my comments, in her book, How to tell your story so the world listens, Bobette Buster author and USC Adjunct Professor notes:
“It has been said that Industrial Age ended after the end of World War Two. Then, it was superseded by the Age of Information via the computer, the 1960s boom in Madison Avenue advertising…and television. Then with the Internet boom of the 1990s, there followed in 2003 with viral explosion of the social media. With this a new deceiving conceit arose: anything worth knowing is available at our fingertips. This immediacy has curiously, made people less curious about discovering the world, at least to any depth.”
The author then points out; we often “… know the facts, but not the context in which they happen.”
Let’s start with what we know and specifically fueling so much concern, and then I will share some context in a FAQ.
An editorial on the Lotte controversy in Yonhap, the Korean newswire service, writer sums up popular sentiment:
“Koreans are sick and tired of these internecine fights when the managerial control of a chaebol moves between generations.” More so, “who will succeed a family decision, rather than a formal shareholders’ meeting.”
Fuel to the fire…
In July, amid considerable media attention, Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries agreed to an $8 billion merger that essentially consolidated the Samsung Group’s Lee family sway over Samsung Electronics, the Group’s flagship. This move sparked the ire of activist shareholder Paul Singer, CEO of U.S. hedge fund Elliott Associates. The American firm publically felt the deal would undervalued their substantial stock holdings in Samsung C&T while overvaluing Cheil to the benefit of the Lee family successor. Samsung rallied their supporters to win over Elliott in a heated vote.
Noting, I have prepared a three point FAQ look at context behind Korean succession, past and present.
1. What’s driving Korean family succession?
Looking back, Korea’s chaebol model is strongly rooted in their past. Neo-Confucianism, the dominant secular ideology of the nation going back to 1392, required all government officials and bureaucrats to pass rigid civil service examination for local, provincial or court positions. The Korean monarchy was the exception, male primogeniture used to determine the next ruler. Likewise, within Korean families, the eldest son and his descendants take precedence over siblings and their descendants. Elder sons took precedence not only over younger sons, but all sons took precedence over daughters—even elder daughters.
With the modern era and end of Japanese Colonial Rule, Korean business groups emerged. Family run, they gained considerable momentum during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s under the state-run policies mandated by the government.
At times this was a love/ hate relationship between the Groups and Government—with transfer of family wealth becoming an issue as the first generation of Founders handed over control to their children.
It is here we also see the first controversies surface. Following Korean traditional Confucian norms that dictated the eldest son be granted control over the family holdings as the next patriarch in some cases as with Samsung and Hyundai, a sibling or relative other than the eldest was selected by the Founder. In some instances, the elder sibling(s) fell out of favor of Founder, while in other cases a younger son assumed the role following the death of an elder son or if there was no son, a relative would take control.
2. How is the recent merger at Samsung associated with succession?
A second set of issues with wealth transfer centers on inheritance taxation—a tax levied up to 50% of the patriarch’s assets. To avoid the hefty tax, defacto holding companies allowed the second generation to gain control over the Groups with a marginal investment and little direct inheritance of the patriarch’s holdings.
As we move into a 3rd Gen of family control Groups like Samsung and Hyundai Motor have been engaged in similar lengthy and well orchestrated fiscal moves to transfer wealth and control. Much of this is through merging smaller companies, which the future successor has a substantial interest, with a larger Group’s firm, gaining control with no investment of monies. i.e. Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries.
A second method is work funneling.
In this process, Korean chaebol families have considerable ownership stakes in many of the privately held sister companies.
Next, the other subsidiaries give these smaller companies a huge amount of business to increase their revenue. Finally, these smaller companies grow considerably over time and can move to an IPO or sell some of their holdings to outside investors. i.e. Hyundai Glovis and Innocean Worldwide.
The families can then use the revenue stream to buy stock in other key publically traded subsidiaries and their chaebol’s defacto holding company.
In both cases, ownership stake along with circular, cross and pyramid (radiant) shareholdings give them direct and indirect control over the entire Group.
3. Noting public sentiment regarding succession, how likely is it for the South Korean President Park Geun-hye to toughen corporate laws?
As I note above, there has been a longtime Love/ Hate relationship between the chaebol and the Government. Despite the chaebols’ dominance and influence, they are increasingly coming under pressure from new laws and regulations designed to increase financial transparency and accountability of family members.
For instance, the government recently enacted a “deemed inheritance tax,” so that family members can’t get around South Korea’s inheritance tax laws, and has revised commercial laws to tighten requirements for reporting internal transactions.
This said, at time when addressing Korea’s sluggish economy is a priority for the current administration, few feel President Park Geun-hye will lash out at against the Groups. I see pressure being exerted on Lotte to resolve their family differences. I also see succession plans by Samsung and Hyundai continuing, with the reins of control and ownership transferred as planned—with hope to draw as little attention as possible.
To conclude, as a colleague expressed recently that for succession plans still in the works, their transition will come late in the cycle. As others bring attention to the issue, transitions that must and will occur from the current and aging leadership to the next generation will gets more a legal focus and public scrutiny.
I’d add this means focus and resources the Group’s leadership should have on running their business will be re-directed to dealing with succession. Decisions impacting their global operation could be delayed as well as the approval process, which require a high level sign off.
Question? Comments?
Why not schedule a chat? http://www.meetme.so/
Or, Direct Questions to questions@koreabcw.com
Links
How to tell your story so the world listens, Bobette Buster
http://www.amazon.com/
Everything Korea October 19 Episode: Stop Blaming Your Culture
Some quotes to start the Vodcast…
1.Working with and within a culture is sensible, practical and effective.
2. Within an overarching corporate culture, there are generally several subcultures each with the own unique elements.
3. Use the culture you already have.
….take pains to stay within the most essential tenets of existing culture.
4. [it’s] Critical to fully understand the culture, then be able to de-construct and simply aspects relevant to your situation.
These quotes are from a well crafted article titled, “Stop Blaming Your Culture”
A colleague recently shared the article recognizing the concept had value for his own company in working with and within their Culture. In particular, I was asked then to assist with providing insights into the Korean side of my client’s Culture. Echoing the article “Culture matters!”
I strongly recommend you download the article and study. I’d then be happy to share my thoughts on how to work within your specific Culture.
Culture article link
http://
Just go to http://www.meetme.so/
Questions, Comments, Thoughts?
Go to questions@koreabcw.com