Characteristics of Cultural, Social and Political Life of Japan and South Korea - Assignment Example

A). Part 1: Cross-Cultural/National Comparisons between Japan and South Korea Section 1: Facts and statistics JAPAN SOUTH KOREA 1. 21% of the Japanese population is elderly, the highest proportion in the world 1. The population of South Korea is composed of 99.9% Korean but 0.1% the population is Chinese. 2. Over 70% of Japan consists of mountains and it also has over 200 volcanoes Most of South Korea's topography is mountainous with its highest point being Halla-san at 6,398 feet (1,950 m). Halla-san is an extinct volcano. 3.Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's  two major religions The dominant religious groups in South Korea are Christian and Buddhist 4. The official language in Japan is Japanese The official language of South Korea is Korean but English is taught widely in the country's schools 5. Japan consists of over 6,800 islands. Around two-thirds of the land in South Korea is forested. 6. Capital city is Tokyo The capital city of Korea is Seoul 7. Spring months are March, April, and May. Summer months are June, July, and August. Autumn months are September, October, and November. Winter months are December, January, and February. The climate of South Korea is temperate with cold winters and hot, wet summers. 8. Japanese people have an average life-expectancy that is 4 years longer than Americans. It’s life expectancy at birth is 82.6% South Korean’s Life expectancy at birth is 79.05% Its capital, Seoul, is one of its largest cities with a population of over ten million. 9. Japan’s unemployment rate is less than 4%. South Korean’s Unemployment rate was estimated to 3.7% by 2010 10. Japan's economy, the world's third largest, has slid back into recession after the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in March. Gross domestic product shrank 0.9% in the first three months of the year, the Cabinet office said, giving an annualized rate of contraction of 3.7%. Analysts say consumption and exports were worst hit. South Korea's economy is high-tech and industrialized. Has pulled out of the global financial crisis ahead of most other countries. Next to Turkey, achieved among the fastest growth in 2010 among members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Developmen1t. 11. The literacy rate in Japan is almost 100%. Japanese is common in South Korea. 12. Japanese prisons (as of 2003) operated at an average of 117% capacity  An ordinary prison. At a 5.7-pyeong cell, nine prisoners live in each room. The meals they eat are worth US$0.90 13. The executive branch reports to the Diet. The chief of the executive branch, the Prime Minister, is appointed by the Emperor as ... The executive branch of Korea is made up of chief of state who is the country's president and a head of government who is the prime minister 14. Japan’s largest company include Toyota , NTT, Honda, Nissan etc. Some of South Korea's largest companies in Korea include Hyundai, LG and Samsung 15. November and April is often considered the best time to visit Japan because the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in most regions of the country and the weather is pleasantly mild. Domestic travel activity is increased in early April due to spring school holidays, in late April due to the start of the Golden and during most of the rest of the month due the cherry blossom season2. The average January temperature for Seoul, South Korea's capital city, is 28°F (-2.5°C) while the average August high temperature is 85°F (29.5°C). 16. Japan, a country of islands, extends along the eastern or Pacific coast of Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are Hokkaido and Honshu South Korea is the country making up the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. 17. There are vending machines in Japan that dispense beer! There are Dispenser Equipment Manufacturers & Beer Dispenser Equipment Suppliers in South Korea   18. The main industries in Japan include automobiles, consumer electronics computers, semiconductors, copper, Shipbuilding , Aerospace -,Petrochemicals - Biotechnology and pharmaceutics The main industries in South Korea include electronics, telecommunications, auto production, steel, shipbuilding and chemical production. 19. The world speed record for Maglev is held by the Japanese experimental MLX01: 581 km/h (361 mph). The high-speed rail is usually designed for passenger. Japan's main islands of Honshu and Kyushu are served by a network of high speed train lines that connect Tokyo with most of the country's South Korea has high speed rail line called Korea Train Express (KTX) which was based on the French TGV. 20 Japan has Public holidays like New year(1st January), National Foundation day(11 Feb), Constitution day(3rd May) Korea has holidays like the Lunar New Year (around January/February) and the Moon Festival (around September/October). A Paleolithic culture from about 30,000 BC is the first known inhabitants of Japan. The antiquity of Hominid occupation in Korea may date to as early as c. 500000 BC. Yi and Clark. The first known inhabitants of Illinois are the Native Americans. They were the first people to occupy south Korea Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee, Frommer's South Korea, (London: Frommer's, 2010) Robert J. Smith and Richard King Beardsley, Japanese Culture: Its Development and Characteristics,(New York: Routledge, 2004) Section 2: Business/trade profiles and information JAPAN SOUTH KOREA 1.Japanese market-entry needs one to have good relationship with the Japanese Koreans establish good interpersonal relationships which ease the business process. 2. Japanese business culture is wrongly perceived as the biggest obstacle to starting business in Japan for many foreign companies thinking of entering the Japanese market. There are some cross cultural differences one may face when doing business in South Korea 3. There is direct sales in Japan corporate sales in Japan In reviewing merchandise exports by market, Korea has depended very heavily on the U.S. and Japan 4.The management services include registered address and proxy director services The importation of capital goods has continued to increase sharply. 5. Japanese tax office's ruling against Amazon is this: with rapidly declining tax revenues every foreign company is on the tax office's radar and any company trying to exploit the customer liaison subsidiary structure is advised to accrue for the possibility the tax office will disagree. Another major thrust of Korean trade policy aims at diversifying the nation's export market and import sources in order to avoid over-dependence on a few traditional trading partners, most notably the United States and Japan I6.If a company seriously wants to claim its Japanese subsidiary is purely operating as a customer liaison office then it needs to ensure there is no daily interaction between its foreign managers and subsidiary employees, Korea is highly dependent on imports both of raw materials, especially energy, and capital goods 7.They operate in branch-office registration In South Korean business culture, women also shake hands with Korean men. 8.They have executive recruitment Address people by their title or by their title and family name. 9.They use online advertising technology provider The use of Digital media in South Korea for advertising and publishing .South Korea is amongst the world's highest Internet usage and broadband use for private data, News & feedback for the online editorial and Technology. 10. Japan is the world's leading construction industry online information and collaboration management service provider South Korea's construction industry had its biggest annual contraction since at least 2008 in the second quarter, 3 Construction has been an important South Korean export industry since the early 1960s and remains a critical source of foreign exchange 11.The trade policy of Japan relates to Japan's approach to import and export with third countries Korea has grown increasingly dependent on the United States market for its exports, leading to successive trade surpluses with that country and mounting trade frictions. Conversely, Korea's dependence on Japan as its major source of imports has generated large and chronic annual trade deflects with its eastern neighbor. 12. Japan is a processing nation, they import raw materials and are able to pay for the imports by adding value to them and exporting some of the output Good gifts for a first visit are office items, maybe with your logo on them. 13. Industrial policy. The first was to develop world-class industries that can initially substitute for imports and then compete in international markets. The second was to provide incentives for firms to export. Meetings Meetings are booked in advanced. The most convenient times for doing business are between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 14.Products of Japanese companies that were manufactured in South-Asian countries were re-imported at lower prices In South Korea personal relationships generally take precedence over business. A first meeting is a 'get to know' affair rather than focusing on business matters 15.Japan is often viewed as a heavily export-dependent nation Korea have balanced expansion of external trade, 16. The long-term growth in imports was facilitated by several major factors. The most important was general growth in the Japanese economy and income levels. The government is pursuing a closer balance between production for export and production for domestic consumption. 17.A third factor affecting imports was trade liberalization Korea has internationalization and liberalization of the local economy, trade diversification, and expanded multilateral cooperation. 18.Yet another factor determining import levels was the exchange rate Korea also pursued rapid structural transformation toward more skilled and technology-intensive production so as to upgrade its industrial structure and thus, enhance export competitiveness 19. Some men in Japan shave their heads as a form of apology When doing business in South Korea men greet each other with a slight bow sometimes accompanied with a handshake 20. The knowledge of business culture and impact of cultural differences are the keys to success when working in the global business environment. Relationships & Communication . South Koreans prefer to do business with people with whom they have a personal connection.  . It is therefore crucial to be introduced by a third-party.  Section 3: Characteristics in cultural, social and political JAPAN SOUTH KOREA 1.The politics of Japan is conducted in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy Politics of the Republic of Korea takes place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic 2.Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government The President is the head of state 3. Japanese politics uses a multi-party system. Korea has multi-party system 4. Executive power exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the Diet, with the House of representatives  and the House of Councilors. . Executive power is exercised by the government Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly 5.The Judiciary system of Japan is an independent entity The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature and comprises a Supreme Court, appellate courts, and a Constitutional Court4. 6. Japan is generally considered a constitutional monarchy with a system of civil law Since 1948, the constitution has undergone five major revisions, each signifying a new republic. The current Sixth Republic began with the last major constitutional revision in 1988 7. |The capital city is Tokyo The Capital city of Korea is Seoul 8.By the Constitution, the Diet is the most powerful from the three branches and consists of two houses; the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors The president is elected for a five year term by the people 9. The judiciary is independent in Japan. The higher judicial members are appointed by the Emperor with the consensus of prime minister and cabinet. The South Korean judiciary is independent of the other two branches. The highest judiciary body is the Supreme Court, whose justices are appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly 10.Japan is a member state of the United Nations Korea participate in International organization 11.Japan is situated off the eastern edge of the Asian continent, the Japanese archipelago is bounded on the N by the Sea of Okhotsk, . Korea is located in Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Sea and the Yellow Sea 12. Two primary factors influence Japan's climate: a location near the Asian continent and the existence of major oceanic currents. On the Pacific ocean, Japan is an island country comprising of more than three thousand islands and thus, the Japan Climate is not same everywhere Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter 13. Ethnic Make-up: Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511262, Chinese 244241 Ethnic Make-up: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) 14. The dominant religion is Shinto and Buddhism 5 Religions: no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianism 1%, other 1% 15.The inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation from the outside world during the Tokugawa shogunate until the arrival of "The Black Ships" and the Meiji period. Korean teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in Korean society.  . It is a system of behaviors and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship.  16.The Japanese language is spoken mainly in Japan The Korean language is spoken by more than 65 million people living on the peninsula and its outlying islands as well as 5.5 million Koreans living in other parts of the world 17. Traditional Japanese clothing distinguishes Japan from all other countries around the world. The Japanese word kimono means "something one wears" and they are the traditional garments of Japan The Dressing Etiquette in Korea include:  Business attire is conservative.  . Men should wear dark- colored, conservative business suits with white shirts.  . Women should dress conservatively and wear subdued colors. Men should avoid wearing jewells other than a watch or a wedding ring. 18. Japanese popular culture not only reflects the attitudes and concerns of the present but also provides a link to the past. Popular films,television programs, manga, music, and videogames all developed from older artistic and literary traditions, and many of their themes and styles of presentation can be traced to traditional art forms As with music, there is a distinction between court dance and folk dance. Common court dances are jeongjaemu performed at banquets, and ilmu, performed at Korean Confucian rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into 19. Baseball, football, and other popular western sports were imported to Japan in the Meiji period. Sports are commonly practiced in schools along with traditional martial arts. There is a Korean version of chess called Janggi, based on an old version of Xiangqi. Yut is a popular family board game enjoyed throughout the country, especially during holidays. 20. Painting has been an art in Japan for a very long time: the brush is a traditional writing tool, and the extension of that to its use as an artist's tool was probably natural. Traditional Japanese sculptures mainly consisted of Buddhist images, There is a unique set of handicrafts produced in Korea. Most of the handicrafts are created for a particular everyday use Cwiertka, Katarzyna, Modern Japanese Cuisine: Food, Power and National Identity. ( London : Reaktion Books, 2007) Eckersley, M.,Drama from the Rim: Asian Pacific Drama Book (Melbourne : Drama Victoria, 2009) B:Part2:ComparativeContemporaryIssues  Japan A: Issues in Society/culture Issue: Women's Issues Explanation: Japan is facing contemporary issues in the woman population. Japanese women are facing contemporary issues which are drastically affecting their work and stay in Japan. This includes sections on gender equality; women and work; aging; and marriage and divorce. For instance Gender equality is still a problem in Japan because women’s are seen as low in the society as compared to their male counterparts. This is mostly seen in the work system where women are still not given chances to work in some industries because they assume it is the work of men. Source: www.newton.uor.edu Kumiko Fujimura-Fanselow, Transforming Japan: How Feminism and Diversity Are Making a Difference, (New York: Feminist Press, 2011) Issue: Japan Access to Education  Explanation: With the introduction to the Japanese Education system which includes sections on the history of the system, schools and curricula, it has seen a lot of issues and challenges of reform. Featuring articles on contemporary domestic trends and society reflection on education World Status In Education Received. ... The problems are widely acknowledged in Japan and are currently the subject of .... of university-based teachereducation; and support for equal access to higher education. ... Source: www.myjapanphone.com/japan www.hurights.or.jp/...education.../dowa-education OECD, OECD Economic Surveys: Japan 2011(New York: OECD Publishing, 2011) Issue: Japan Access to Employment Explanation: The employment system in Japan Sections include: Lifetime Employment and Seniority-Based Wages; Working Population and Working Hours; Wage System and Labor Relations; Labor Unions and Major Changes Ahead. There are several issues facing the employment sector especially based on enumerations and the working conditions of employees. Outsiders do not come to come to Japan to work without having the proper documents allowing them to work in Japan. Source: www.us-japan.org/resources/usjapanlinks/jobs/ Issue: Kids Web in Japan Explanation: The Kids web in Japan is an issue because of the kind of music kids are listening to, what they're wearing, which stars and comedians they like, the kind of sports and video games they play, the cartoons they watch and read, new phrases that kids are using, and the toys and other artifacts they own. These calls for a real scrutiny for this web so that kids are not exploited with UN healthy sides in terms of the morals. The children’s rights in Japan should be respected. Source: www.loc.gov Issue: Industrial policy Explanation: Industrial policies have constantly played key roles in sustaining Japan's economic development. Japan was to develop world-class industries that can initially substitute for imports and then compete in international market. They had to provide incentives for firms to export so as to be able to succeed in business. Though Japan is a processing nation, they import raw materials and are able to pay for the imports by adding value to them and exporting some of the outputs. Source : www.meti.go.jp/english/policy/economy/pdf/Policy_ B: Issues in business/economy  Issue: Politics and Business Explanation: Politics and business seem not to work hand in hand, because for instance when new prime minister brought his visa problems to Japan, inter business with other countries never went smoothly, because the political environment could not allow other countries to venture into business in Japan easily. Political contributions are an established custom contributing to the development of democratic government Source: www.jstor.org/ Issue: Cultural Challenges. Explanation: Cultural differences have a long history. The risk of starting a business which may not work well with the Japanese people is high, for instance Japan has a country and his people have their own self cultures and business ethics and may be very difficult to venture into their cultures, or change the way they do their business. There are many different cultures around the world today. Free trade would make all cultures to interact and are able to learn from one another, though it may not work well with all the cultural groups. Source: www.japanusbusinessnews.com/2008/02/cross-cultural.htm Issues: Nuclear power Explanation: The Japanese people have the fear of the possible attacks launched upon nuclear power stations. The future of having to pay of the country’s debts but nothing about the underground stockpiling of nuclear waste and how this will, over time, make the earth’s resources harder and more dangerous to extract. Japan is the third most peaceful country in the world, according to the  Global Peace Index, a survey compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Japan is racing to gain control of the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Source: www.guardian.co.uk/news/.../japan-nuclear-powe Issues: Earth quakes Explanation: The rising fears about the quakes impacts on Japan’s nuclear power plants and other industries are not working well in Japan. The frequent terrible scenes of loss of life, devastation of homes and grief has led to a lot of loss also in economy. This is because the country has a whole have to meet the disasters each and every time they occur. For instance the loss of life’s who could be helping in the boosting of the country’s economy means starting again to re-organize. Source: www.japan-guide.com/e/e2116.html Issue: Export Policy Explanation: For many years, export promotion was a large issue in Japanese Government policy. Government officials recognized that Japan needed to import to grow and develop, and it needed to generate exports to pay for those Imports . After 1945, Japan had difficulty exporting enough to pay for its imports until the mid-1960s, and resulting deficits were the justification for export promotion programs and import restrictions. The unclear policy hurts Japan's nuke technology exports. Source: www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=20190&sec=2 Issues: Business Ethics Explanation: Japan and the Global Economy present a multicultural perspective of global business ethics with special emphasis on Japanese viewpoints. Other countries like US will always want to use weapons to attack their enemies, but Japan seems to oppose this act. Japanese Constitution prohibits the use of military forces to wage war against other countries. Japan is the third most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index, a survey compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Source: www.inderscience.com/search/index South Korea A: Issues in Society/culture Issue: Genders Explanation: Gender issues influence cultural production across a variety of cultural genres. It is seen that gender as various interpretations and associated practice, in a number of cultures. The course's main focus is on the concept of gender and sexuality. There is no equality between the male and the female counterparts especially from the cultural point of view. There is need to give insights into the place of gender in culture and the place of culture in gender. Women once enjoyed nearly equal legal status with men, but that changed over the course of the Chosun Dynast Source: www.korea4expats.com/article-gender-roles 2.Issues:CommunicatingBetweenCultures Explanation : There is need for communication bridging courses so as to allow people negotiate meaningfully across cultural boundaries, with special reference to the differing expressions of politeness, cultural sensitivity, negotiation, explicit and covert language, and their relation to local and international cultures. There is a Guide to South Korean culture, society, language, etiquette, manners, customs and protocol. Communication styles across cultures that people need to follow in order to do business well South Korea. Source: www.kwintessential.co.uk/.../south-korea 3. Issue: Religion Explanation: There are some of the major social and religious issues facing contemporary Indonesia in regional and global contexts. Almost half of the populations are not associated to any religion. Those who are Buddhist are almost the same percentage with Christianity. There social life in Japan between the different groups is not. It wasnoted that there was Bitter tension between the government and religious groups such as the buddhist bodies which escalated to a fever pitch. Source: www.buddhistchannel.tv Issue: Multiculturalism Explanation: Interactions of cultures provide opportunities for the cultural differences to exist in Japan. There are many people of different cultures, which have actually led to a lot of differences especially in the work places and even in terms of using the countries infrastructures. The society is not tolerant with the others culture. Each an every cultural group wants to do their own things according to their beliefs and cultures, and see the others as conflicting them. The idea of South Korea's foreign brides, hidden dangers abound in the hastily arranged marriages that leave many women in a mess because of racism is an impact of the multiculturalism. Source: www.english.hani.co.kr Issue: Culture and Identity Explanation: The problems of cultural identity are closely connected to the tragedy of Korea's division into two hostile states. It is quite clear that there is difference in identity of people from the same community and even race. People of difference race and identity seem not to work well , thus leading to lack of understanding and eventually leads to enmity and hatred, because for once, each and every group will want to be identified with their own cultures. Source: www.countrystudies.us/south-korea/41.htm B: Issues in business/economy  Issue: Business Culture. Explanation: On needs to be aware of the Information about business culture in South Korea to help them interact more effectively with clients and colleagues from South Korea. For instance, one should be much aware of how to do business in South Korea so as not to be suppressed with the upcoming difficulties with the Koreans people and their cultures. Guide to South Korean culture, society, language, etiquette, manners, customs in business, Should be followed so has to do business in South Korea with ease. Source: www.worldbusinessculture.com/Business-in-South-Korea.html Issue: economic problems Explanation: There is increasingly problem of economy in the country because of the governments’ political conditions, economy, foreign relations of South Korea and other countries such as U.S is becoming very poor. The aging population is also contributing to the poor economy of the country. Economic development throughout Korea has been uneven, with the South showing a blocking complete reunification. Source: www.eastwestcenter.org/.../economic-and-social-aspects-of-korea Issue: Trade, business and industry Explanation: Reforms are needed in South Korean in order to solve some problems and make South Korean market more liberalized. Trade, business and industry have drastically dropped which has really affected the country’s economy . The main subjects affected , agriculture, trade remedies, including a number of sensitive issues — autos, among others — that have plagued the U.S.-South Korean trading relationship for decades. Source: www.seoulkoreaasia.com/trade-business.htm Issue Foreign Multinational Corporations Explanation: The Impact of Foreign Multinational Corporations in South Korea is realized; for once the multinational corporations are running businesses in some organizations in the South Korean countries. The business seems to be not benefiting so much with the citizens, but instead it is robbing them of some of their benefits. The typical problems encountered include high competition from home. Some multinational companies have their head offices in South Korea. The Impact of Foreign Multinational Corporations in South Korea is dated back Evolution, Dynamics .Foreign Direct Investment has a lot of impacts in performance and policy Issues Source: www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff Issue: Factory Outputs Explanation: – Manufacturing activity in two of Asia's biggest economies dips raising concerns ... are among the biggest businesses in Japan and South Korea. The factory outputs is becoming an issue, because there is a decrease of the outputs has compared to some years back. This is a threat and if not solved immediately, the trend will not be promising in future. South Korean Factory Output  have also been affected by problems in their own economies.  South Korea's industrial production in July fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent from June. On the other hand, South Korean manufacturers have been dealt a double blow by sluggish domestic demand. Source: www.cnbc.com/.../South_Korea _ Read More