1. CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING
South Korea

2. Manager Profile
Sofia Addison
34
 Sofia joined the company four years ago as a junior
management consultant. She excelled in this role and
was quickly promoted to team manager.
 In this role, Sofia successfully headed several large
consultancy projects for a number of large national
companies. Her good work in this role did not go
unnoticed and she was promoted to her current role,
senior management consultant.
 Before joining us, Sofia worked as a junior consultant for
Deloitte in London.
 Previously this, Sofia studied for her undergraduate
degree at the London Business School before studying
for her Master’s degree and PhD at the University of
Cambridge.

3. Corporate Culture
Corporate culture is inherently linked to
societal norms, South Korea has maintained a
distinct and homogenous identity influenced by
religious and philosophical beliefs
There are a number of subtleties and nuances
in communication and interactions that you
must be aware of as an expatriate manager

4. Corporate Culture Analysis
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
South Korea
Femininity and
Power Distance
Masculinity
High - 60
Low - 39
Long-Term Orientation
High - 75
Individualism v
Uncertainty Avoidance
Collectivism
High - 85
Low - 18

5. Corporate Culture Analysis
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
South Korea

6. Corporate Culture Analysis
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
United Kingdom
Femininity and
Power Distance
Masculinity
Low - 35
High - 66
Long-Term Orientation
Low - 25
Individualism v
Uncertainty Avoidance
Collectivism
Low - 35
High - 89

7. Corporate Culture Analysis
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
South Korea and the UK

8. Corporate Culture Analysis
Hall’s Cultural Dimensions
South Korea United Kingdom
Context Context
Low Context V Low Context V
High Context High Context
High Low
Polychronic V Polychronic V
Monochronic Monochronic
Polychronic Monochronic

9. Corporate Culture Analysis
Hall’s and Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
Dimension South Korea Score UK Score
Power Distance High 60 Low 35
Individualism Low 18 High 89
Masculinity Low 39 High 66
Uncertainty Avoidance High 85 Low 35
Long-term Orientation High 75 Low 25
High Context/Low Context High - Low -
Polychronic/Monochronic M-Time - M-Time -

10. Corporate Culture Analysis
Challenges for the Expatriate Manager
 The importance of the collective means the expatriate manager must make
attempts to bond with colleagues in order to facilitate productive relationships
 High power distance means that employees are likely to require explicit
instructions from superiors and may avoid working autonomously
 Hierarchical status may come from social privilege rather than operational
performance or personal achievement – employees of different statuses may
be uncomfortable when interacting one another.
 Long-term orientation of South Korea means strategies will reflect long term
profits and growth, with acceptance that goals will be achieved at a slower
rate.
 In feminine orientated cultures overt displays of emotions; frustration, anger
or distaste is considered unacceptable – the expatriate manager must learn
the art of negotiation and compromise.
 High context cultures value rectitude, humility and modesty in professional
interactions

11. Corporate Culture Analysis
5 Ways to Succeed as an Expatriate Manager
 Be friendly – relationships are important!
 Be open– respond to personal questions openly to facilitate
strong bonds and relationships
 Demonstrate integrity – keep your word and action things
you say you will, fast!
 Build relationships – personal relationships are key to
successful business interactions, take the time to get to know
your colleagues and staff and build positive relationships with
them
 Use these connections – help your staff to develop using your
business relationships

12. Corporate Culture Analysis
5 Ways to Fail as an Expatriate Manager
 Disrespect the business card ritual – the exchange of
business cards is vital for initiating introductions
 Avoid personal questions
 Make people ‘lose face’ – the concept of Kibun is
important to Koreans and to disrespect this to a Korean is
to hurt their pride and challenge their dignity
 Make unfavourable comparisons – with Japan or China
 Failure to respect hierarchy – South Korea is hierarchical
in nature and this feudality must be respected in the
context of age, status or rank