South Korea is a leading economy in Asia and is considered one of the Four Asian Tigers. Alongside widely known cultural, cinematic, and musical values worldwide, South Korea is also one of the active foreign investors in Vietnam. This is evidenced by a series of Korean corporations and companies headquartered in Vietnam, such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Lotteria…
Currently, the demand for recruiting Vietnamese workers in South Korea as well as Korean companies in Vietnam is increasing. Moreover, working for a Korean company has long been a dream for many due to the vast labor market and numerous benefits for foreign workers.
Therefore, meeting recruitment requirements and adapting to the working environment with bosses from the Land of the Morning Calm is also a challenge for Vietnamese workers.
In this article, we cordially invite dear readers to join HUFLIT Career Hub in exploring the working methods and culture at Korean companies in Vietnam.
Working culture in the style of the Land of the Morning Calm
#1 Hurry-hurry culture
One of the Korean words that foreigners visiting South Korea frequently encounter is “빨리빨리” (hurry hurry). This slogan has also become a characteristic culture of the Land of the Morning Calm.
In South Korea, everything happens very quickly. Foreigners are often amazed by this fast pace. Most Koreans are in a hurry in everything, such as work, study, eating,…
If you have the opportunity to work at a Korean company, you will hear this phrase very often. The reason is that Koreans want to use this phrase to boost the morale and working speed of their employees, while also contributing to motivating them.
It is precisely this inherent spirit of the hurry-hurry culture that has made South Korea a leading global superpower in the digital field, including the Internet. This fast-paced attitude is the catalyst helping South Korea develop to where it is today.
Additionally, Koreans highly value diligence in their work. Hard work and perseverance have become a defining cultural trait of the Korean people. That is why South Korea has become one of the Four Asian Economic Tigers.
#2 Respect for hierarchy
For example, when Koreans go out to eat together, the youngest or lowest-ranking person will usually set the table for others, yield items to older people or those with the highest rank first. This is not always strictly the case, as sometimes older people wishing to show respect to younger individuals will also take on this role.
Letting older people go outside first, eating at their pace, letting them finish first, and giving them priority gifts are ways to show that you understand and respect Korean hierarchy.
#3 Greeting everyone individually, in the correct order
When Koreans enter a room, they rarely greet the whole group at once. They will take the time to greet each person individually, starting with the oldest. Try to follow those rules, and the same goes when you say goodbye. Additionally, Koreans usually do not shake hands; instead, they prefer bowing.
They might deliberately shake hands if they think you expect it, but their handshake is usually quite weak. This is a sign of respect toward you rather than a sign of weakness. Korean men may also be reluctant to shake hands with women.
#4 Punctuality is an immortal culture
Punctuality has long been a standard for Korean businesses in Vietnam to evaluate the professionalism and dedication of each employee. Not only does it cause a loss of credibility, but arriving late can also result in heavy fines.
Besides, greeting is also an immortal culture among Koreans. In many companies, employees often bow low to greet superiors, and even in daily life, older or high-ranking individuals are often greeted with a bow by others. That is a characteristic feature when you work for Korean companies.
#5 Promoting team spirit
Korean companies also value tightly knit teams and a cohesive corporate environment. Annually, Korean companies often organize team-building activities to foster group bonding. You can go out for dinner with colleagues after work or hang out on the weekends.
Korean companies often feel like a family, and the more you participate, the better. When you leave the company, those friendships usually remain. Therefore, working alone is something you will rarely see in Korean companies because they always help each other to complete tasks in the best way possible.
This is further proven by their focus on collective development rather than individual achievement.
#6 Relationship building
Koreans often use a term called “jeong”, which means care and attachment to others. Although people everywhere in the world possess these qualities, Koreans are definitely experts at showing “jeong” to one another.
If you want to win the favor of your Korean colleagues, consider sharing snacks at the workplace, helping colleagues facing difficulties, and frequently having lunch with colleagues to demonstrate your “jeong”.
#7 Viewing company lunch as an opportunity rather than an obligation
In many cases, people simply expect their teammates to go to lunch together. That is the natural default. If you have plans, feel free to let people know that you won’t be joining them, but try to eat with colleagues more often.
Think of it as an opportunity to build good relationships with them, rather than an obligation. The same goes for company dinners. Try to make time to attend, even if you have to leave early or cannot drink alcohol. It will benefit you in the end.
#8 Honesty, seriousness, and a progressive mindset are the keys to working in a Korean company
Koreans greatly value the honesty of their employees in their work and behavior. Therefore, when working at Korean businesses, you should not lie or make excuses.
At the same time, Koreans are very perfectionistic in their work. They demand that everything be very detailed, clear, and specific. Therefore, when working with Koreans, you need to be detailed and prepare a complete plan. If you are tactful, hardworking, and serious in your work, you will certainly be highly appreciated.
Hopefully, this article will provide useful information and broaden the perspective of our readers on the working culture in Korean businesses. This is also good preparation for students before applying to Korean companies in Vietnam.
HUFLIT Career Hub Editorial Board
References: 10mag, Glints, Jobpro
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