Killingly Kanny in Korea!

SOUTH Korea, the country that gave the world Taekwondo, hosted the 1988Summer Olympics, and the venue for 2002 FIFA cup, has a stunningly beautiful, predominantly mountainous terrain with a culture that is unique in its own right.

Seoul, the capital and largest city in the Republic has a population of more than million. This sprawling metropolis harmonises ancient tradition with modern beauty. The city is surrounded by scenic mountains and is longitudinally bisected by the Hangang River. Downtown Seoul is full of modern, high-rise buildings, but is also home to century- old palaces and historic relics.

Wining & Dining:

Korea has one of the highest per capita rates of alcohol consumption in the world! Drinking is often a necessary prelude to business of any kind since Korean business people often believe that it may be difficult to trust a business partner until a few drinks have been shared. At times, the only way to resolve a sensitive problem or close a difficultbusiness deal is over a drink. It is common to be invited out afterbusiness hours to a Gisaeng house, bar, or dinner party where there willbe a lot of alcohol. Be certain that all comments and promises made atthese occasions are taken seriously afterwards! While it is common inother countries to extend dinner invitations to spouses, this is not thecase when interacting with the Koreans. Business entertaining isreserved for the people directly involved in the negotiations.Entertaining frequently takes place in restaurants and coffee shops andif you are invited to a home consider it a tremendous honour. Rememberto refrain from discussing business during a meal unless your hostbrings it up first.

It is important to remove your shoes when entering a home. Eating, sitting, and sleeping are done on the floor, so this area has to beclean. Position your shoes so that the toes are pointing away from thebuilding. When putting your shoes back on, do not sit with your backtoward the house.

The most common South Korean toast you will hear is ``Gun- hei.''When you raise your glass, be sure to do so with your right hand and support your right arm with your left hand. Be aware that the draining your glass is a cue to your host that you would like a ``refill.'' Dinner is the largest meal of the day, and usually takes place between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m and consists of several small courses served one after the other. Food ofany kind should not be picked up with your fingers. Even fruit is eatenin slices with chopsticks. A little practice with these implementsbefore you leave will be an excellent idea!

Korean food is rich in flavour with spicy side dishes, servedattractively. Their staple, Kimchee, is served with every meal, and canbe made of practically any vegetable, but usually of Chinese or napacabbage which is rinsed with salt water and left to ferment overnight.The taste is an acquired one redolent of garlic and fish sauce. Betweencourses, Koreans like to sip hot green tea as it assists in cleansingthe palate to better enjoy the tastes of other foods that are to follow.

When eating a meal, leave a small portion of food on your plate. If you leave a ``clean plate'', the perception will be that the hospitality was inadequate. Also place your chopsticks on the table or on the restbecause placing them parallel on top of your bowl is considered a signof bad luck, and leaving them sticking out of rice is taboo.

Name calling:

Korean names are different from Western names and a person has, in the following order, a family name, a clan name, and also a given name. Always address people by their title alone or by both their title andtheir family name and wait for permission before using their first names.

Accent:

The Koreans speak English in a sing-song accent with a nasal twang. Thismight sound very different to the listener but one will be able tofollow if they listen carefully and patiently.

Dress Sense:

Conservative dressing is prevalent within the business community. Whilemen generally wear formal suits in sober colours, women prefer to wear acomfortable skirt, top and jacket that will not hamper them whilesitting down. It is to be noted that shorts are not generally worn inpublic, except on holdays in the park or at home.

Business Sense:

While South Koreans may read and write English, the general level of understanding spoken English is surprisingly low. In addition to having a translator, it is an advantage to provide printed documentation of your presentation. This will help your audience to understand better what you are trying to say. In all business transactions do not sign a contract or write a person's name in red ink, since this indicates that the person is deceased.

MALINI SURYANARAYANAN

maalini.mds@careercommunity.co.in