You’ve got to be kidding me … it looks like good ‘ol Kim Jong-Il is back at it. It appears that North Korea conducted a second underground nuclear test. This isn’t going to be good for the peninsula, not good at all. I’ll reiterate my Dr. Strangelove/Kim photoshop for y’all:
Source: New York Times
Well, they finally did it. The above is my second ‘ode’ to the ‘great leader’ in all his rocket glory.
North Korea announced that it would eventually launch a satellite into orbit, although it is believed this launch was going to be a test for a ballistic missile system. Apparently the missile didn’t go into orbit after crashing into the Pacific Ocean. According to the Korea Times, the North Korean government announced to it’s citizens that the launch was a complete success and that the satellite was orbiting and sending out signals. Um, that might be hard to do from the bottom of the ocean … yet again I am baffled at how closed of a system the hermit kingdom is.
For more articles, check out the JoongAng Daily or the Digital Chosunilbo.
Watch the full 1-hour movie right here for free:
This is a very fascinating video, one of only two documentaries I have seen of North Korea, the hermit nation. A team was allowed a rare opportunity to film inside of North Korea, though there were many restrictions and I’m sure the video that came out of the country was controlled. It’s against the law for citizens to look at foreigners, so you never see any citizen even peak at the camera. While in the North you also can’t share that you’ll visit South Korea for some reason.
They get a tour of the only library in Pyongyang which includes many references to the founder of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung. Many fairy tells about their “Great Leader” were created and are taught as truth. One example is that cranes flew down after the death of Il-Sung and carried him to where he was buried. There was even an interview with a North Korean (escaped to South Korea) who worked in the story-making propaganda department where he told about how a story was fed to him to teach like it really happened. He finally fled the country after his wife and one of his daughters died through malnutrition and health problems. While visiting the huge statue of Il-Sung the documentary crew was forced to present flowers and bow to it. Even the date system revolves around the guy, the year this documentary was taken was 89 on the North Korean calendar which starts on the birth year of Il-Sung.
The crew stayed in a large hotel which was virtually empty. The hotel and the area outside of the hotel looked very surreal. There weren’t many people (old people are sent out of the capital and handicapped people are asked to stay inside) and there were even less cars. Even with virtually no vehicle traffic, there was a police woman who was directing the non-existent traffic (there are apparently no traffic lights). The only large gathering was 50,000 youth which practice six hours every day in order to prepare for an upcoming ceremony.
There is a very interesting part where they walk through a museum and teach about the Korean war. The “Yankees” are talked about like the scum of the Earth. The tour guide focuses on the war crimes committed against women and children and even mentions a plane that was shot down by “our ladies.”
While on the North side of the DMZ, the North Korean soldier said that the reason they hate the Americans is because they separated Korea after 5000 peaceful years. Um. … no, I seem to recall the go-ryo (an ancient kingdom in now-North Korea) having war with shilla (one of the other ancient kingdoms located in the south), but I guess that doesn’t really matter to them. Then he directly tells the Japanese tourists that are there that the Japanese are guilty also and that they should promote unification back in their home country. The soldiers also point out a wall that South Korea apparently has built to protect itself against a North Korean invasion. The documentary says that South Korea has so far denied the existence of this wall but I have not personally looked into the claim.
Can you guess who that is? I can tell you it’s not Charleston Heston (I’ll give you a hint, he’s listed in the tags on this post). I just thought I would try out my new photoshop skills…
Like business everywhere, always act your best and play your cards right. If you know someone who can improve your chances of getting into someone else’s circle make sure you acknowledge the fact. A little work in this department can go a long way.
I’ve never been to Korea, but I know that Koreans have business cards. hundreds. If not thousands. I’ve heard it is dirt cheap to buy very nice looking business cards in Korea. Whenever you meet someone, it is customary to exchange business cards. Make sure you carry enough so that a good opportunity won’t fall through your hands.
Business cards are great for remembering someone and finding out what level they are in the company they work at. When you give them, use both hands or your right hand (touching your elbow with your left hand) in order to show respect. Keep the card out for a little while to use it as a reference instead of putting it away immediately.
Like it was pointed out in a previous chapter, Koreans don’t like to appear that they are ignorant on any subject. This includes English (although, aren’t we no different in this aspect?). Even if they appear to understand what you say, make sure to speak in terms according to their perceived English level. This usually involves a little casual talk and some questions so you can know what level to talk at. Enunciating can be very important too. If you are presenting information, make sure to give written notes out so that they can look up words if needed.
Korean businesspeople are believed to be good negotiators worldwide. When you negotiate, be patient and firm, but gentle. Decisions can take some time, don’t feel like you have to rush into things. Also don’t worry about the little things when you are at the negotiating table, since that person probably won’t make them any way. You can use other people to worry about those details
Although you may think a contract is immutable, you can expect things to change with Korea. Koreans don’t like detailed contracts and tend to make changes as things go. This can be very frustrating since many Westerners regard a contract as set in stone and can be offended when Koreans change terms. Just remember to keep good relations and develop relationships of trust. This can involve giving and taking.
Do not put others in a difficult situation, keeping face is very important. Compliment them and keep the atmosphere positive and you will reap the benefits.
Also, be careful for those who try to act like you know Korea more than other foreigners. This is a method used by some to try to butter you up and get their way. Just be mindful in whatever situation you find yourself in and remember to keep things professional.
Entertainment is a big part of business. Many business relationships are developed through having parties, which can involve a lot of alcohol. Make sure to do your part and entertain them, relationships are not one sided. Small gifts are very common also.
When you develop relationships, try to find out as much about the other party as you can (family, philosophies, hobbies, etc.). Verbal promises and trust can be more binding here than a written agreement.
Make sure to go out and experience many different cultural activities. By diversifying your life you get more chances to understand the people and develop new connections.
Although it’s built into you (if you are from a Western country), try to branch out and learn how Koreans think. Study Confucianism and observe how Koreans interact with each other. If you do business like a Westerner, you can expect to get business … with Westerners.
Korea is the 4th most wired country in the world according to the OECD. On top of that, Koreans use mobile phones and Internet constantly. This results from proliferation of information at an incredible speed. Make sure you keep your data up to date and use reliable sources. Information is power and power is money.
Lastly, as a new foreigner you will be given some slack. Being a foreigner can sometimes take a toll on negotiations (sometimes while negotiating with foreigners Koreans can expect to get more because they are from a country that has less than others) but it can also be very positive. Try to keep the previous ten commandments in mind, but Koreans do realize how hard it can be for new foreigners to deal with them and understand their customs. If possible do negotiations with someone who knows Korea well, but if you can’t do that it’s not the end of the world.
Go to the next chapter, Get Off on the Right Foot: Business Etiquette or select a chapter.
