Tag Archives: legal

Adapting to Korean Business Practices (MBIK 7)

Posted by on January 28, 2009 2 comments

The the huge amount of globalization these days, it is essential that anyone doing business abroad be well versed in both their own country’s legal policies and the foreign country’s policies and unwritten rules.  This can help you dodge problems and jump through hoops.

Background

Social Environment

In  the past, many businessmen in Korea have used their positions to further their personal agendas.  After the IMF crisis of 1998 these irregularities have largely been taken care of.

Personal Relationships

Most business transactions in Korea happen between people who have personal ties.  You need to be able to deal ethically but at the same time deal with local idiosyncrasies.

Competition

Since Korea is such a small country, competition is extremely fierce and sometimes leads to a philosophy of one must win at any cost.

When in Rome…

Local Expertise

Rather than relying on your own expertise in your own country, you must use local methods to be successful.  Much of the time that means having loyal Koreans that help you build relationships and make contracts.

Like it was brought up before, you should be cautious when dealing with some people who are considered expert “foreign handlers.”  They commonly use flattery like telling you that you understand their culture better than others in order to get what they want.  It doesn’t always mean they are buttering you up, but stay on the look out.

Third Parties

Sometimes the best way to make sure that you stay ethical and get things done is to hire local third parties to handle the situation.  But make sure that you trust the party who you choose, remember that they will act in your behalf.

Lofty Causes

Sometimes non-monetary methods are used to sweeten the deal.  This can involve offering educational incentives, travel expenses all paid for, etc.  Rather than giving certain individuals deals this usually involves the entire company.  This is a better alternative to trying to give individuals incentives, which can approach the line between ethical and not.

Personal Ties

Time and money invested in simply building personal relationships is very well taken and is essential if you want to develop a long term relationship if trust.

Public Relations

In Korea, a company’s public image can make or break them.  They must appear to be a company that helps the local community and basically makes Korea a better place.  If your company gets a name publicly for being unethical, you can kiss your future goodbye.

Overall Insight

Never stop developing your knowledge and expertise in doing business in Korea.  It’s a never ending process which can be very fruitful and joyful.

Go to the next chapter, Managing and Being Managed by Koreans or select a chapter.

Law trying to be passed to force linking identity to all online comments

Posted by on January 21, 2009 1 comment

onlineidentity

Source: Koreality

I read an article recently about how China has plans to force all gamers to provide their real names “in order to prevent over-gaming.”  When I heard that I wasn’t surprised given that China is a communist nation where privacy is something given and taken everyday.

What I was suprised is that the current administration in Korea is trying to force all netziens (internet users) to register with their real name on ANY comment site and register on ANY site that has more than 100,000 users (rather than the current 300,000).  Sites will also be required to have a system to delete comments that receive complaints within 24 hours.

The reason used to enact a policy like this include an apparently huge problem of “Internet bullying” and prevention of cyber-terrorism.  A recent celebrity suicide is blamed on Internet bullying and many other people have fallen victom recently which has brought this issue to light.

This brings up the question again of what is freedom and what freedoms should we be entitles to.  A system like this can be very dangerous because of how open it inherently is.  What exactly is a “malicious post” and how do they determine if they should delete it?

One problem that I have run into is that many Korean websites require users to input their citizen id (probably to comply with the policy listed above).  Well, that becomes a problem for a foreigner like me who doesn’t have one.  Do you know how many American websites force you to use your social security number?  That’d be a big zero.  I have been able to sign up for the big ones, like Cyworld and NateOn, which have systems for foreigners but the problem still exists.  I’ve read other articles about how this problem is trying to be fixed, but with policies like this I can only imagine it’ll get worse before it gets better for us.

Korean Blogger Arrested For “Malicious Rumors”

Posted by on January 18, 2009 No comments

chosun-ilbo
Picture courtesy of Chosun Ilbo

Source: Korea Beat

A blogger in South Korea, only known as “Minerva,” was recently arrested for posting ”malicious rumors” saying that the economy would collapse.  I won’t argue about whether he should have wrote what he did, but that brings up an interesting question.  What is free speech?  Are we allowed to write what we want on the Internet?  Where do we draw the line?

I have found the word “freedom” is defined different in Korea and in America (not saying one is better than the other).  I tend to defend a persons’ right to post his thoughts (malicious or otherwise).