Korea: A Travelogue of Cultural Discovery

Hey There,

Finally, a much-needed break from the office! As much as I love staring at spreadsheets and listening to elevator music, I was ready for a change of pace. So, I packed my bags and headed off to Seoul and Busan in South Korea for a week of adventure and exploration. Now, I'm not the biggest KPop fan (please don't hate me), but I've always been interested in understanding more about the country that birthed a culture that gained such popularity across the world. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Focus on Education

It's no secret that education is highly valued in both Korea and Hong Kong. Parents from both places invest a tremendous amount of attention and resources into their children's education, and it shows in the high demand for top star tutors. In Hong Kong, some students might recall the frenzy almost 10 years ago when a tutor centre was willing to pay a star tutor a whopping 80 million HKD (approximately 11 million USD) per year. People thought it was crazy enough at the time, but the situation in Korea is on another level entirely.

Enter Hyun Woo-jin, a celebrity tutor in Korea who has taken the industry by storm. He is famous for his unique teaching style and ability to inspire his students in math and physics. Hyun's classes are in such high demand that students have to compete in a lottery system just to get a chance to enroll. And with an annual salary of around 26 million USD, Hyun is one of the highest-paid celebrity tutors in Korea. But what's truly impressive is his dedication to his craft. Despite his success, Hyun remains humble and constantly seeks new ways to improve his teaching methods. He even stays up late at night to prepare for his classes, proving that his passion for education goes beyond just making a hefty paycheck.

It's clear that the focus on education in both Korea and Hong Kong is real, but the astronomical salaries of star tutors in Korea take it to a whole new level. Who knows what the future holds for the education industry, but one thing is for sure - the demand for top-notch education will only continue to rise.

Career Path

Hong Kong and Korea have a similar focus on education and professional careers, particularly in high-income professions such as law and medicine. One reason for this could be the importance placed on social status and financial stability in both cultures. Pursuing a prestigious career is often seen as a way to achieve these goals and is expected not just for personal success but also for the benefit of one's family. As a result, university programs that lead to high-paying jobs are popular and competitive choices in both countries.

Now let's talk about the differences. One thing that stood out to me is the lack of job mobility in Korea. It's common for Koreans to stay at the same company for a very long time, even for their entire lives, especially in large corporations like Samsung, LG, and Lotte. I guess loyalty really matters there!

One thing I envy about the Korean work culture is the better work-life balance. The government has set a limit on the maximum working hours per week, which is currently 52 hours, and they actually enforce it! In contrast, we Hong Kongers are notorious for our super long working hours. Interestingly, the newly elected government in South Korea attempted to increase the maximum working hours to 69 hours, but it faced strong objections from younger generations who prioritize work-life balance. As a result, the government was forced to backtrack on the proposal.

Gender Equality

When it comes to gender inequality, Korea faces its own unique struggles. While there are similarities with Hong Kong, such as the significant gender pay gap in the workplace and the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and leadership, there are also notable differences. For example, in Korea, there is a much lower acceptance rate for women in the same position as men. Women are often expected to conform to traditional gender roles as wives and mothers. The prevalence of sexual harassment and assault is also a major issue, which often goes unreported and unpunished due to social stigma and lack of legal protections.

These issues are explored in the book "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982", which sheds light on the gender inequality that still persists in Korean society. Wooseok also shared an interesting perspective on the issue, explaining that one potential reason behind it is that women were not required to join the military services for two years at their 20s, which is considered the golden era of their life. As a result, some men may view their higher social status as compensation for their military service. While there have been some efforts to address these issues, such as the introduction of affirmative action policies and anti-discrimination laws, progress has been slow and uneven. It will require a concerted effort from all sectors of society to achieve true gender equality in Korea.

Conclusion

As a management consultant, I have had the opportunity to work with colleagues and experts from various countries around the globe to solve problems. Sometimes, I imagine myself working on an overseas project, sipping on a cup of coffee while staring at the beautiful view of a foreign city. But let's be real, we all know it's just going to be me, hunched over my laptop, in a dimly lit hotel room, trying to meet a deadline while fighting jet lag. And don't even get me started on the struggles of trying to navigate a foreign language menu! Nonetheless, I have learned that there is no "best" working environment for everyone; it's more a matter of "fit," and you will always have to make prioritizations.

On a more serious note, we often take our own cultural perceptions for granted, and assume that they are the only right way. It's like white noise that we don't even realize exists. That's why it's always refreshing to have a conversation with someone from a different background, not just because of the different perspectives they can offer, but also because it reminds us to be more open-minded and humble. Plus, it's always fun to learn about the weird and wonderful quirks of different cultures, like how Koreans prefer to change restaurants during a meal while Hong Kongers like to stay put. Who knew?

Have a nice work week ahead,

Sherman

Things that I found interesting this week:

📚 Book — Kim JiYoung, Born 1982

The book was written by author Cho Nam-Joo, renowned for her truthful reflection of gender discrimination against women in Korea and broader Asian culture. The novel depicts the struggles of a young mother who, like many women in Korea, is driven to psychosis due to societal pressures and expectations. This book will resonate with anyone who is interested in exploring the intersection of gender and culture, and how they affect mental health. It's a must-read for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by women in Korea and other Asian societies.

Reference: In This Korean Best Seller, a Young Mother Is Driven to Psychosis - The New York Times

📚 Book — The Cultural Map by Erin Meyer

Erin Meyer is a well-known cross-cultural management expert, provides readers with a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to navigating cultural differences in the workplace in her book, "The Culture Map". Through her research and real-world examples, Meyer offers insights into communication strategies and decision-making styles when working with people from different cultural backgrounds. As she emphasizes, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing across cultures, but by understanding the "pros" and "cons" of different cultures, readers can better navigate the challenges of working globally. If you're interested in building your cross-cultural communication skills, I highly recommend this book.

(Note: I want to give a special shout-out to my mentor Jim Lai for recommending this book to me!)

🎬  Video — MM｜跟首爾港人OL深夜遊韓國！韓式大排檔嘆燒啤配辣炒豬肉 東大門24小時解酒店飲排骨宿醉湯到「迷信街」試玩街頭算命扭蛋機 首爾人經常買醉因為應酬文化？｜#旅遊止癮 #4K - YouTube

When I was doing my research for my trip to Korea, I came across this video that gave a deep dive into the pojangmacha culture that I didn't go into deeper in the article. It was interesting to learn about the close relationship between the Korean local work culture and how they gathered around the pojangchama. The video also showcased some local food delicacies that I'm excited to try out.