South Korea vs UAE: Society and Culture - Essay Example

Comparison between South Korea and UAE Name Institution Date Table of Contents Running Head: SOUTH KOREAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE 1 Comparison between South Korea and UAE 1 Name 1 Institution 1 Date 1 SOUTH KOREAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE 2 Table of Contents 2 South Korean Society and Culture 3 Part A 3 Family Structure 3 Hierarchical structure 5 Part B: Comparison between the South Korea and UAE 6 Etiquette and customs 6 Meeting etiquette 6 Gift giving etiquette 8 Dinning etiquette 8 Business etiquette and protocol 9 Relationship and communication 9 Business meeting etiquette 9 Business negotiations 10 Business cards 11 Hofstede cultural dimensions 11 Economic ranking and resource 12 References 13 Debenham, L. (2010). Etiquette in The United Arab Emirates, Retrieved on 30 June 2012 from 14 South Korean Society and Culture Part A Family Structure The family is the most important aspect of the Korean life. The family members have special obligations towards each other and the wider society. The family members have to stick to one another and maintain their unity. The father is the head of the family in the family structure. The father is responsible for the welfare of the family. This includes the provision of basic needs and any other requirement by the family. Approval of marriages in the family is purely the responsibility of the father. The elder son of the family has special responsibility in the family. This includes direct responsibilities towards the parents, the brothers and sisters, his wife and sons and lastly to the daughters. The wife also plays an important role in the family. The main role of the wife is to ensure that the children are well taken care of. In some instances, the wife plays an important role in assisting the husband to make the right decisions (Kwintessential, 2012). The parents have a special responsibility of guiding the children to the right direction. The children also have to obey their parents whole heartedly. This plays an important role in uniting the family members. It is also important to note that the actions of one family member reflect the actions of the entire family. A family is thus judged depending on the actions of the family members. The family welfare is thus treated as an important aspect beyond the individual needs. The male members of the family are very important. This is mainly because they provide an important link to the family when tracing the ancestors. Most families are able to trace their ancestors to more than 500 years ago using the male ancestors. Hierarchical structure The hierarchical structure in the society in South Korea was initially guided by kinship and status in the society. Kinship was highly regarded and the people of the same family would work closely together. The people were also divided according to the classes that they belonged. The kings and the rulers occupied the top classes while the poor and the slaves occupied the lowest class and experienced a lot of suffering due to oppression. However, in the modern day South Korea, the hierarchical structure has changed to a large extend and it strives at achieving equality among the people. However, for the purpose of maintaining good relations among the people in the society, some of the traditional practices and structures are still in place. The most popular forms of hierarchical structure being the Confucianism. It puts in place measures that ensure that the people relate harmoniously in the society. Confucianism is mainly categorized in five levels. The levels include the relationship between the father and son should be guided by pure affection and it had led to a harmonious relationship in the family and the society as a whole. On the other hand, the relationship between the rulers and the ministers is guided by righteousness. This has played an important role in promoting harmony in the government. The relationship between the husband and wife is always guided by attention towards their separate roles in the family and society. Most families are successful due to their ability to being attentive in the different roles. The relationship between the young and the old in South Korea is mainly guided by proper order for the purpose of maintaining respect. The old people in South Korea are usually highly respected by the other members of the society. The relationship between the friends is mainly guided by faithfulness. Every friend is usually expected to be very faithful to the other. This hierarchical structure has ensured that the people of South Korea are living harmoniously with each other. Culture of respect among the Korean people Part B: Comparison between the South Korea and UAE Etiquette and customs Meeting etiquette In South Korea, greetings usually follow a strict protocol among the people. The Korean people bow to each other during greetings. The person with the lower status usually bows to the person with a higher status. However, when greeting the expatriates it is usually common for them to shake hands first before bowing. This is mainly for the purpose of blending their cultures with that of the expatriate. It is also required that a person bows to the gathering before saying goodbye when leaving a gathering. In the UAE, greetings are also very important and usually follow some protocols. The men usually greet each other by shaking hands followed by nose to nose touch. The women greet each other by kissing several times on the cheeks. This is usually accompanied by verbal greetings and it is common to ask the other person how they are doing (Debenham, 2010). Unlike in South Korea, men and women are not supposed to greet each other in public. This is considering that physical contact is usually involved during the greetings. Both countries and cultures are however strict on meeting etiquette as it is a part of showing respect to one another. Greetings in South Korea Gift giving etiquette In South Korea, gift giving is considered as an important aspect of relating with the people. The cost of the gifts depends on the ability of the person involved. Simple gifts like chocolates and sweets are very common. During gift giving it is important to note that numbers plays an important role. The number four is considered unlucky and so the gifts should not be four in number. However, seven is a lucky number and the gift in such a number is highly appreciated. When wrapping gifts, colors are very important. Red and yellow are considered royal and can thus be used to wrap gifts. Both hands should also be used when offering the gifts. In the UAE, the guidelines concerning gift giving are not very complex. However, most emphasis is usually pt on the originality of the gift. The gift also defines the status of the individual in the society. Its affordability is considered before it is handed over. Dinning etiquette In South Korea, strict dinning etiquette is usually followed. The guests are supposed to observe the etiquettes whenever they are invited. Before entering the dining room, the guests should remove their shoes. The drinks are usually served by the hosts and not the hostess. Eating the food is strictly by the use of chopsticks and using bare hands are strictly forbidden and a sign of disrespect. The fruits have to be pierced using a toothpick. The eldest ember in the group is usually served first and starts the eating process before the rest. This is also a sign of respect to the elders. The food is usually served on the tables. However, in the UAE, the dinning etiquette is quite different in most aspects from those of Korea. The guests or the family members have to eat while seated on the floor which is usually carpeted. Hand washing is a must as the food has to be eaten without the use of chopsticks forks or spoons. Eating is purely done by the use of bare hands. These protocols are usually followed strictly and the family members and guests usually eat at the same time (Codrai, 1999). Business etiquette and protocol Relationship and communication South Koreans are good communicators and would always ask questions where they do not understand an issue (Anders, 2010). The usually require direct and simple answers that are convincing and conclusive. They usually prefer using introductions when raising sensitive matters. The South Koreans also relate well with the people they know well. During business transactions, it is important for one to be introduced by a third party before they can be allowed to transact business with certain persons. Contracts are usually signed and are treated as memorandums of understandings. In the UAE, the business relations are mainly dependent on trust. This is usually achieved after a long period of time. The business meetings are composed of both formal and informal meetings (Brill, 2008). Business meeting etiquette Business meetings in South Korea form an important aspect of introduction and building of a strong relationship with the business partners (Lenchner, 2012). It is usually common to book for meetings three weeks in advance. This is for the purpose of ensuring that both parties are well prepared. Attending the meeting late is usually seen as a sign of disrespect to the person intended to meet. It is thus common to arrive early for the meeting. Interruptions during the meeting are considered rude and are not welcomed in most cases. However, in the UAE, interruptions are not considered rude and it is usually common to see people walking out of the meetings to take phone calls or enter the meting room without informing the others. Time is a bit relaxed in the UAE during meetings and late comers are usually tolerated. Meetings are usually accompanied by pastries and coffee in the UAE. This is mainly due to the high hospitality standards observed in the UAE (Matthew, 1999). Business negotiations In South Korea, negotiations are very important and they contribute greatly to the establishment of trust among the business partners. Negotiations are usually carried out in an orderly manner with the use of precise questions and signing of contracts in case of agreements. However, the negotiations only take place after both parties are familiar with each other. In the UAE on the other hand, negotiations are also an important aspect of business. Negotiations can at times be quite chaotic with full of haggling. This therefore delays the process and decision making after the negotiations ends up taking long. However, despite the nature of the business negotiations, the people of the UAE are good negotiators and good results usually come out of it (Time Out Dubai, 2011). Business cards Business cards are very important in South Korea and are usually exchanged after the introduction. The way the business cards are handled reflects on how the person will treat the owner of the business card. It is considered disrespectful to write on one’s business card in their presence or keeping it carelessly (Gorrill, 2006). It is also important to ensure that the business cards are printed in both Korea and English for the purpose of ensuring everyone understands the details and gets the right contacts. In the UAE, it is usually important to translate the contents of the business card to Arabic which is a local language. The presentation of the business card to clients should be done with the necessary language on top. This ensures that the client is able to read the business card and understand it. Hofstede cultural dimensions South Korea Has low levels of tolerance which has played an important role in the formulation of strict rules meant to counter the uncertainties. The society in South Korea is more collectivist as compared to individualism. This enhances stronger cooperation and loyalty in the society (Choe, 2010). The power distance index however shows some levels of equality in the society in South Korea which is common in most countries and societies. However, in the UAE, feminity masculinity males are more dominant in the society and are expected to take care of finances and their homes. The society is mainly collectivist and relays more on cooperation among the members of the society. The family values are also quite important and are highly regarded. The uncertainty avoidance ids also high in the UAE prompting tough rules and regulations. The cultural dimensions of South Korea are thus almost similar to that of the UAE. The table below is a summary of Hofstede cultural dimensions Country Uncertainty avoidance Power distance Individualism Masculinity UAE 68 80 38 52 South Korea 60 85 18 39 Economic ranking and resource The UAE is highly ranked in terms of its economic development It is ranked the first in the middle East and 12th in the world. The economy of the UAE is experiencing a high growth due to strategic leadership and the commitments of the government towards service improvement. This has further been enhanced by the availability of oil and natural gas which are among the valuable resources in the world (Forstenlechner, 2010). On the other hand, South Korea is ranked 8th in Asia and 15th in the world. This is mainly attributed to its high growth. Coal and iron ore ate the main natural resources found in South Korea. These resources have greatly boosted the economy through foreign exchange. The people of South Korea also have a strong willpower to develop their country and thus the high spirit of hard work. The leadership strategies have also contributed greatly to the success of South Korea. It is thus evident that the economic situation of both countries is good and progressing at a high rate (Byung-Nak, 2003). References Time Out Dubai, (2011), Business etiquette in the UAE. Retrieved on 30th June 2012 from, . Matthew, J. (1999). UAE: A MEED Practical and Business Guide, 5th ed. Codrai, R. (1999). The Seven Sheikhdoms: Life in the Trucial States before the Federation of the United Arab Emirates. Brill, G. (2008). Eight tips of doing business in the UAE. Retrieved on 30th June 2012 from, . Debenham, L. (2010). Etiquette in The United Arab Emirates, Retrieved on 30 June 2012 from Forstenlechner, I. (2010). "Workforce localization in emerging Gulf economies: the need to fine- tune HRM." Personnel Review 39(1): 135-152. Choe, S. (2010). Rule of Thumbs: Koreans Reign in Texting World. Seoul: New York Times.  Lenchner, J. et al (2012). The Globalization Reader. Willey-Blackwell. pp. 362. ISBN 978-0- 470-65563-4.  Gorrill, J. (2006). Doing Business in South Korea |Korean Social and Business Culture. Retrieved on 30th June from, . Anders, R. (2010). South Korea Business Etiquette. Retrieved on 30th June 2012 from, Kwintessential, (2012).South Korea - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved on 30th June 2012 from, Byung-Nak, S. (2003). The Rise of the Korean Economy (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-592827-X.  Read More