Getting into Market

Personal aspects of your relationship with Korean business partners are very important and shouldn’t be neglected. A face-to-face meeting is more effective than contact by telephone or a letter when you want to seriously discuss some business with Koreans.

Koreans normally bow when they greet each other. When they bow they also welcome the opportunity to shake hands with others: foreigners, friends or strangers.

Business cards are important when doing business in Korea. It is ideal to have them printed in Korean on one side. When receiving or passing gifts, business cards or other articles, Koreans tend to use both hands as a sign of politeness.

Koreans write and say their family name first and their given name last. At business meetings, given names are not generally used; addressing people as Mr Kim, Mrs Kim or Miss Lee is most common.

Although many Koreans understand written English reasonably well, listening and speaking ability varies. Don’t assume everything you say in English is completely understood. On some occasions, Koreans may pretend to understand, although they actually don’t.

Koreans avoid making direct eye-to-eye contact when in conversation, as it is considered impolite.

Never write a person's name in red ink. Koreans only do this if the person is dead.

Koreans traditionally sit, eat and sleep on the floor, so visitors to a Korean home are very often asked to take off their shoes when they go into the house.

Do not blow your nose at the dinner table (a very discreet wipe is allowed!).