Mastering Business in Korea - A Practical Guide

Mastering Business in Korea: A Practical Guide is a comprehensive overview of conducting business affairs in Korea by two business authorities with a combined half-century of experience in the Korean commercial environment. Chapters aim to analyze the source of cultural, technical and legal issues in the Korean business world, to examine the role of business etiquettes and standards in Korean culture, to focus on previously uncovered subjects such as the cultural background of Korean business principles, the relationship between supervisors and subordinates in the Korean corporate environment, and the ever-changing reality of the Korean market. Mastering Business in Korea is a timely and relevant handbook of information you need to succeed in the challenging business environment of Korea, one of the world's leading and dynamic economies. In an engaging and easy-to-read format, Coyner and Jang explain the ins and outs of contemporary Korean business culture, including business etiquette, work rules, and marketing to the Korean consumer. Mastering Business in Korea offers pivotal insight into an environment that is traditional yet uncompromisingly modern, challenging yet surprisingly rewarding for the determined business professional. Praise for Mastering Business in Korea An Accessible Business Guide For Everyone "It's all here! This is a superb effort to help deal with the tremendous complexities of Korean business. Lots of examples and practical advice grounded in the experience of the authors and their corporate colleagues. This book will save you years on the learning curve if you really take it to heart." --Jack Lewis, Associate Dean Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California "The authors have written a superb book that demystifies Korea and offers comprehensive advice to anyone interested in living in the country, working with or for Korean managers or doing business with Korean counterparts." --Robert Fallon, Chairman of the Board Korea Exchange Bank "Even the smallest effort pays a dividend and with this excellent book the reader has a chance to tap into the insight of two business professionals. I thoroughly recommend this book, not only for the newcomer to Korea but also to long-term residents who may think they know it all already. As they will discover, modesty is not just a virtue, it can be a very useful state of mind." --Alan Timblick, OBE, Senior Advisor Invest KOREA/KOTRA Mastering Business in Korea is a timely and relevant handbook of information you need to succeed in the challenging business environment of Korea, one of the world's leading and dynamic economies. In an engaging and easy-to-read format Thomas L. Coyner and Song-Hyon Jang explain the ins and outs of contemporary Korean business culture, including business etiquette, work rules, and marketing to the Korean consumer. Mastering Business in Korea offers pivotal insight into an environment that is traditional yet uncompromisingly modern, challenging yet surprisingly rewarding for the determined business professional. About the Authors Tom Coyner is the president of Soft Landing Korea, Ltd. He has over 20 years of experience in Japan and Korea working for American firms as well as 7 years working for Japanese companies in the United States. When employed by an American company in Korea, he was twice salesperson of the year for Asia-Pacific largely due to his success in working with Korean distributors. He originally came to Korea as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He has an MBA in International Business from the University of Southern California; a BA in Japanese Language from the University of Colorado and studied for two years at Waseda University in Tokyo. Song-Hyon Jang is the president of S.H. Jang & Associates, Inc., an international business consultancy. He graduated from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in 1970 with a Master of Business degree. He is one of Korea's leading international business consultants with a professional career spans over 25 years of cross-cultural management experience, including senior executive positions with multinational corporations and as a university lecturer. He is also the author of The Key to Successful Business in Korea, the first guide-book in English for international business professionals, and The Ten Commandments for Doing Business in Korea. TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by Nick Reilly, President of GM Asia Acknowledgements Preface PART I. GETTING TO KNOW THE KOREANS 1. What an Expat Manager Really Needs to Know About Korean History 2. Korean Hearts and Minds: Traditional Yet Changing 3. Understanding Korean Management 4. Getting a Handle on Information PART II. PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD 5. Eleven Commandments for Doing Business in Korea 6. Get Off on the Right Foot: Business Etiquette 7. Adapting to Korean Business Practices 8. Managing and Being Managed by Koreans 9. Korean Impressions of Foreign Business PART III. GETTING ALONG WITH THE KOREANS 10. Negotiating Business 11. Getting Joint Ventures Right 12. Hiring and Firing 13. Korea's Corporate Middle Managers 14. Compensating Your Employees 15. Motivating Personnel. 16. Getting Labor Management Relations Right 17. Company Training PART IV. MAKING IT IN THE KOREAN MARKET 18. Marketing in Korea 19. The Art of Persuasion 20. Selling in Korea: Myths and Realities 21. Discovering the Consumer 22. Selling Through Korean Distributors 23. Relating to Bureaucrats 24. Getting Your Products to Market 25. Working within the Korean Legal System 26. Industry Case Study: Characteristics of the Korean IS Industry PART V. REFERENCES -Bibliography -Index -About the Authors