Helpful Resources for Making it Big in Korea
Lectures to help expats better understand Korea
A series of lectures to help expats understand Korean culture and customs in daily life has been organized by Seoul City. Six lectures to enlighten weary foreigners on the ins and outs of Koreans and their mannerisms will take place at Haechi Hall at the Seoul Center for Culture and Tourism in Myeongdong. The first is scheduled for Thursday.
Titled “Culture Views 2011: The WHYs and HOWs of Korean Ways,” the lectures will explain what is really being implied in the words and behavior of Koreans that many, even long-term resident foreigners don’t easily understand. They will also touch on how they can react to those customs.
In the first lecture to be held between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., the lecturer, Isabelle Min, head of the Third Culture Institute and an instructor at Sungkyunkwan University, will talk about shopping facilities unique to Seoul and explain Koreans’ shopping culture.
“For example, some expats say before they came here, they heard Korea is a courteous country, but they face many Koreans who bump against them in crowded shopping centers and do not apologize. Foreigners become annoyed, thinking Koreans are not polite toward them because they are foreigners,” Lee Su-na, head of the center, said.
Many foreigners may also be curious about why parking lot attendants wave their hands when guiding drivers to empty spots and why department store employees bow deeply and collectively when they open in the morning, Lee said.
“Such behavior is a very minor aspect of daily life in a foreign country but added up can lead to misunderstandings and make expats feel uncomfortable. The lecture aims to resolve any issues by explaining Confucian origins, rapid economic growth and racial homogeneousness apparent in Korean behavior,” she said.
After the lecture, participants can share their experiences and meet new people, Lee added.
Another five lectures will be given under the themes of dining, family and home, transportation, at work, and socializing and networking. The free lectures are in English. For more information call 02-3789-7961.
Replies to This Discussion | 이 토론에 대한 답글들
-
Permalink Reply by Pilar Perez-McKay on -
Thank you William for posting the discussion.
I attended the lecture yesterday and it was great; and it was good to see some more KBC members there!
Isabelle Min is a very lively speaker and was very flexible with the format of her talk, welcoming questions throughout her presentation, which allowed for additional views and discussions. Yesterday's talk was about "shopping".
The next session, scheduled for June 9, will be on "Dining in Korea"
* for more details about the June 9 presentation and registration, please check KBC's event listings!
http://www.koreabusinesscentral.com/events
-
Permalink Reply by Pilar Perez-McKay on
-
Korea Times article about the lecture series here
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/05/113_87585.html
:)
-
Permalink Reply by Lara Tosh on
-
Will be there this Thursday! Am looking forward to it ...I'd missed the original post. Thanks William for posting this!
-
Permalink Reply by Pilar Perez-McKay on
-
Wonderful, I will be there also, so we can catch up.
Isabelle was interviewed by TBS efm's 1013 Main Street on Wed June 1st, she has sent me the file, and I am attaching it now... I hope it works and we can listen to it.
She talks about the cultural seminars at the Seoul Global Culture & Tourism Center and also about FIGT (families in global transition) and TCK (third culture kid) and Korean culture in general. Isabelle is also leading the event on Tuesday, June 7.
"Bridging the Cultural Gap Within Your Family"
- Attachments:
-
-
isabelle min 110601_2.mp3, 7.4 MB
-
-
Permalink Reply by Pilar Perez-McKay on
-
I will ask her when I see her tomorrow.
I am sure she would be delighted
:)
-
-
The events section says Thursday, June 9th ...hopefully that's correct (Tuesday is already full for me).
-
Permalink Reply by Pilar Perez-McKay on
-
Hi Daniel.
*** there are two (2) separate lectures!!
1. Tuesday, June 7 ~ "Bridging the Cultural Gap Within Your Family"
FIGT (families in global transition) and TCK (third culture kid)
2. Thursday, June 9 ~ Cultural View 2011: The WHYs and HOWs of Korean Ways " Dining in Korea "
Seoul Global Culture & Tourism Center Lecture series
Both run by KBC member Isabelle Min!
:)
-
Permalink Reply by Christine Troyano on -
Wish I lived closer. I would love to attend. It sounds like a very informative series. I live in Hayang, a very small town, about 40 minutes out of Daegu.
-
Permalink Reply by William Sisson on -
Pilar and others
I am glad that you are taking opportunity to learn mord about expats.and Korean culture. I think that she would be a great person to include in the Experts Corner. Run it by Steven then ask her if she would like to do it. She could post the series if it has been recorded and.or include her presentation material.
Take care
William
Download the KBC Korea Business Library The Best 47 Free Korean Business Resources to Improve Your Results in Korea
(We hate spam just as much as you and guarantee to never sell or give away your email address.)
Function-Oriented Menu
Feedback, ideas, suggestions or questions about KBC? Click here to share your thoughts with KBC Creator Steven Bammel.
© 2012 Created by Steven S. Bammel.
