When scheduling an appointment, pay attention to Korean holidays during the year. Their working hours are usually from 9:00 to 17:00, from Monday to Friday.
b. Business attire
When going on business trips, Koreans prefer neat, well-fitting, and neutral-colored clothing for the first meeting. Once you have established rapport and trust with them, consider bright-colored clothing for business trips.
For business meetings, men are best suited to dark suits, white shirts, and soft-colored ties. Women's attire is typically a skirt paired with a blouse. Skirts should not be too tight, as Koreans traditionally sit on the floor when eating.
c. Conversation
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Koreans value their honor and self-respect. They feel proud when their self-respect is appreciated. In addition, they emphasize hierarchy, clearly distinguishing between superiors and subordinates, and between grandparents.
- parents - children. Elderly people, people with power, people with social status will be respected by everyone and will be spoken to in formal language. When you want to talk to a Korean, you must guess their social status and age to communicate according to principles and rules.
Like some Asian countries, in social interactions, Koreans avoid touching others except by shaking hands. When meeting, men usually bow or sometimes shake hands lightly, looking directly at the other person; women who are talented and have status also shake hands in greeting.
Koreans place great importance on titles, titles, and social status, and pay attention to how they meet and address each other. When addressing each other, they usually do not use their names and prefer to be referred to by their titles or ranks. In Korean offices, people address each other by their professional titles.
In communication, Koreans do not show enthusiasm or are too friendly, especially with people they do not really trust. However, once they have established a close relationship, they are very friendly and warm towards each other.
Koreans often speak in very soft tones and keep silent for a few moments. However, this silence does not mean that they do not understand what you mean.
When meeting for the first time, Koreans often ask about personal matters such as age, salary, education, religion or family life. Finding out this information is aimed at finding similarities between the two people so that they can establish a business relationship.
Popular topics:
+ Inheriting Korean culture;
+ Economic success;
+ Sports (especially the Olympics);
+ Their family health;
+ Hobbies.
Topics to avoid:
+ Politics;
+ Korean War;
+ Communist regime.
d. Giving gifts
Giving and receiving gifts is also an important part of Korean culture, which helps maintain goodwill with partners and build new relationships.
Koreans love to receive gifts that are traditional items from the giver's country. Food is also a highly valued gift. Avoid giving gifts that are too expensive, as this will force the recipient to prepare a gift of equal value in return.
Cash gifts can be given in an envelope. Cash gifts are common at weddings, holidays (for children), birthdays, funerals, etc.
In the first meeting with a partner, the most suitable gift you should give is a desk decoration item, possibly with your company logo on it. Subsequent gifts can be more beautiful and sophisticated gifts.
When giving gifts to multiple people in the same organization, make sure to give gifts of greater value to those in leadership positions. Gifts for subordinates can be similar as long as they are of lower value than the gift given to the superior. Or you can give one gift to everyone in the organization.
They avoid gifts of knives or scissors and do not open the gift in front of the giver. However, you should ask if they want you to open the gift right away. One thing to note when receiving a gift from a Korean is that it is best to refuse at first, and only accept it when the giver insists on giving it.
e. In transaction
Koreans always want to do business with people they know, so it is a good idea to have an intermediary introduce you. The higher the intermediary's social status, the greater your chances of making a business connection with a partner.
In Korea, personal relationships take precedence. So, on your first meeting, you should learn about your partner and build a relationship with them. Koreans tend to let emotions and reason rule over each other.
In business communication, Koreans have the habit of exchanging business cards when they first meet. One side of the card should have the content in Korean and pay attention to the title printed on the card, this title must be accompanied by qualifications, this will help to show your level.
When receiving a business card, before putting it in a box or business card holder, read it and make a few comments about the card. Giving a business card is also considered a very important thing, it helps the partner know the name, position and title of the person giving the card.
During the negotiation, some Koreans will constantly change the subject, it is best to pay attention to the important points. Different negotiators in the negotiation will ask a lot of questions, so it is important to listen patiently. If you are confused about the terms of the negotiation, you can ask them again.
In Korea, mutual respect is the foundation for successful business relationships. Be honest and sincere in your business dealings.
Koreans value family life, filial piety to ancestors and parents, and obedience to leaders. During meals, seating order must not be confused. The oldest man will sit in the center and is the one who invites guests or starts dinner. Traditionally, the oldest person in the family picks up chopsticks to start the meal, then the others follow suit. When eating, one must sit upright, chew slowly, discreetly, and not lift the bowl from the table.
When having lunch or dinner at a restaurant, you should keep the conversation speed at a moderate level. However, Koreans also enjoy chatting with people who have a wide range of social knowledge. They drink a lot of alcohol, but do not bother if the guest cannot drink. In their stories, they rarely mention political issues. At drinking parties, meals are favorable places to build close relationships.
6.3.3. Basic characteristics in Japanese communication culture
6.3.3.1. A brief overview of Japan
Japan is located east of Korea, Russia, and China and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. With a total area of 377,834 km², Japan's land is an island chain that stretches in an arc along the eastern side of the Asian continent, 3,800 km long. The terrain is mainly mountainous (71%). There are many mountains of volcanic origin, some of which are still active, notably Mount Fuji (3,776 m).
Japan has more than 3,900 small islands and 4 large islands, accounting for about 60% of the total area: Hokkaido (Northern Sea Road), Honshu (Bàn Châu), Shikoku (Four Countries) and Kyushu (Cửu Châu). Tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, and tropical storms are quite common in Japan. In particular, because it is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the regions with the most earthquakes in the world. Every year there are
hundreds of aftershocks, some of which caused heavy damage. With a temperate climate, Japan has four distinct seasons.
Being a country poor in resources except for wood and seafood, while the population is too large, most of the raw materials must be imported, the economy was devastated and exhausted during the war, but with appropriate policies, the Japanese economy quickly recovered (1945-1954), and developed highly (1955-1973). From 1974 to now, although the growth rate has slowed down, Japan continues to be a country with the second largest economy in the world (after the United States), ranked fifth in the field of defense investment, ranked fourth in exports and ranked sixth in imports in the world.
In this country, cherry blossoms not only symbolize noble beauty but also sadness about transience, ephemeral and modesty, patience. Every spring, cherry blossoms embrace the hills, spread throughout the streets, symbolizing the most romantic and beautiful season of Japan. The cherry blossom tree is considered a symbol of peace between Japan and other countries in the world.
6.3.3.2. Characteristics in communication culture
a. When making an appointment
When making an appointment with a Japanese person, if you cannot meet them in person, it is best to make a personal phone call, which is much more effective than sending an invitation letter. The Japanese place great importance on time, and being late is considered rude and impolite.
When planning appointments, pay attention to Japanese holidays during the year. Their working hours are usually from 9:00 to 17:00 or 17:30 during the day.
b. Business attire
In business transactions, the common attire for men is a traditional blue or gray suit with a white shirt and dark tie; women should wear traditional clothing, jewelry, perfume and only light makeup.
c. Conversation
In traditional Japanese communication, there are rules and rituals that people must follow not only in family relationships but also in social relationships. Relationships in Japan tend to be superior and inferior.
Unlike Westerners, Japanese people do not shake hands or hug when meeting each other, but instead bow. This is a rather complicated but important ritual in communication. Bowing properly shows respect for the Japanese.
When greeting, the Japanese always bow, and the type of bow depends on the status and social relationship of each person participating in the communication. They bow to each other several times a day, but the first time they greet each other must be formal, and the following times they just bow slightly.
An unwritten rule is that younger people and people of lower social status will greet older people and people of higher social status first. They use the following three types of bows:
+ Saikeirei style: bowing slowly and very low. This is the highest form, expressing deep respect and is often used before altars in Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, before the national flag, before the Emperor.
+ Normal bowing: bow your body 20 - 30 degrees and hold for 2 - 3 seconds. If you are sitting on the floor and want to bow, place both hands on the floor, palms facing down, 10 - 20cm apart, head bowed 10 - 15cm from the floor.
+ Slight bow: body and head bow slightly for about a second, two hands placed on the hips.
As you can see, bowing is the most common social ritual in the Land of the Rising Sun. But if a Japanese person extends his hand first, you should also respond by shaking hands to show your goodwill. However, when shaking hands, you should not make eye contact and squeeze too hard. Usually, high-ranking people shake hands before leaving and let the most important guest leave the room first.
In social situations, Japanese people often ask very personal questions about salary, scholarships or family life. If you do not want to answer, be polite and tactfully move on to the next question.
After the polite greetings, the Japanese often take the initiative to go into the matter to be discussed first. When the question is asked, it means that the work has officially begun. When the Japanese are performing a task or thinking, they should not give opinions that deviate from the issue being discussed, say irrelevant sentences, or ask about their personal lives. This will be considered unserious, and even cause them to dislike them.
In communication, Japanese people often avoid looking directly at the other person, because that gaze is considered impolite, rude and inappropriate.
The Japanese tend to be skeptical of words and pay more attention to actions. They believe that less is better than too much, so they use silence as a way to communicate. For them, silence is also a way to avoid offending others. In a negotiation, the person with the highest position usually says the least and what he says is the final decision.
The Japanese have a high sense of self-respect, so every word and gesture, including urging or refusing, bears the mark of politeness and courtesy. They always proactively limit confrontational situations, so words and communication rules are used skillfully to avoid causing resentment among colleagues or partners. Instead of going straight to the point, the Japanese often make gentle suggestions, saying
They never say “no” and they never let the other person know they don’t understand. If they disagree or can’t do what someone else asks, they often say “this is difficult.”
The Japanese are not used to arguing, because they do not separate themselves from the group. Showing disagreement is considered rude, they prefer to speak gently and politely. The Japanese pay great attention to making the other person feel comfortable. They never want to bother others with their own feelings. Even if they are sad inside, they still smile when communicating with others.
Popular topics:
+ Family;
+ Praise the hospital that is treating you;
+ Japanese history;
+ Achievements of Japanese artists;
+ Positive comments on the Japanese economy;
+ Sports such as golf and skateboarding. Topics to avoid:
+ World War II;
+ Joke (unless they know you well or it's not a business relationship).
d. Giving gifts
Gift giving is also one of the rituals of the Japanese. They like to give gifts during holidays, when there is good news or when there is a promotion, and the recipient should not open the gift in front of the giver.
In Japanese business culture, they value gift-giving etiquette more than the gift itself. The best time to give a gift is at the end of the meeting.
When giving gifts to Japanese people, it is important to pay attention to the appropriate wrapping paper (white, bright red for casual meetings; gold, silver for weddings; black, gray for sad events and funerals). The color of the string can be 3, 5, 7, 9 but cannot be an even number, the final knot must look like a silkworm. Do not give gifts in the number 4 and 9, do not give sharp objects or tea because they symbolize bad luck in Japan.
Gifts to give:
+ Products with famous brands or foreign brands;
+ Wines of top quality in quality;
+ Frozen beef steak;
+ Special delicious food and fruit;
+ Electronic toys (gifts for children);
+ Cufflinks;
+ Things that the recipient likes or that suit them;
+ A very casual photo. Gifts to avoid:
+ White flowers and lilies, lilies, lotuses, and camellias are (often associated with funerals);
+ Japanese people do not like the numbers 4 and 9 (unlucky numbers);
+ Do not give red Christmas cards (funeral notices are printed in this color).
e. In transaction
To start a meeting, you should call in advance or, best of all, ask an intermediary if you have never met before. Japanese businessmen take telephone etiquette very seriously. When calling, you should clearly address yourself by name, company name, and briefly state the content of the work so as not to waste the other person's time. Japanese people are very concerned about the time issue in appointments. They are annoyed when they have to wait and lose sympathy for people who are late for appointments.
When meeting, after finishing the first greeting, Japanese people will exchange business cards, this is the most important thing when communicating. Normally, business cards will be printed in both English and Japanese, including full information about the job, company and other abilities of the person giving the business card. Japanese people always expect their business cards to be seen and admired by others immediately upon receiving. During the meeting, business cards should be left on the table, and after the meeting, they should be put away respectfully.
If you receive many business cards at once, place the business cards that the Japanese business delegation has just given you on the table in the same order as the Japanese business delegation sitting across from you. The Japanese also arrange the business cards that your delegation has given them on the table in the same order as the person sitting across from them. You can look at them to remember each person's name.
In business, the introduction stage should not be too hasty. Seating with Japanese people should be according to rank and can discuss general issues such as weather, family, travel, etc. Each member of the meeting should be introduced with their rank and position from high to low. After this meeting, they often invite you to dinner and this is also a way to build a more intimate relationship.
When the top person or his assistant mentions the purpose of the meeting, this is a sign that the negotiation is about to begin. The purpose of the meeting is to collect information from the other party, so you must prepare your proposal in detail. Be prepared to answer many questions from them and the Japanese usually do not make decisions at this meeting.
The Japanese are very serious about their work, so they never joke around until they have proven their ability. In negotiations, the Japanese believe in verbal agreements more than legal contracts. They like flexibility, goodwill, and the ability to adjust in negotiations.
In communication, the Japanese do not want confrontation, they believe that disputes can reduce harmony. They absolutely trust the collective decision, giving priority to decisions that have results. They will express their true feelings, because they want to maintain harmony.
6.3.4. Basic characteristics in French communication culture
6.3.4.1. A brief overview of France
France is a large country, located on the Balkan Peninsula in western Europe, bordering many large countries such as; Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain.
In addition to the official language of French, there are many other local languages and dialects used by the French in many different regions such as: German, Italian, Portuguese, Oil dialects (such as Picard and Poitevin-Saitongeais),...
France has many different geographical features, from coastal plains, vast forests, to rolling hills or towering mountain ranges. Not only diverse in geography, France is also considered one of the cultural and artistic centers of Europe with castles, ancient cities and a huge cultural treasure left from ancient Roman times or the prosperous Renaissance period.
Besides the ancient France, bearing the mark of human history, those who have set foot here are overwhelmed by the most modern and luxurious country in Europe. France is not only known for its unique and rich beauty of landscapes but also known as the world of fashion, perfume, wine and typical Western European dishes.
With an area of 551,500 km 2 and nearly 700 million years of geographical formation, France has different appearances in terms of topography. Besides the highest mountain ranges in Europe such as the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Jura, there are also the lowest points in Europe such as the Rhone plain, which is 5m (-15 ft) below sea level. Not only that, France is also surrounded by a dense river system that creates thousands of small branches and large rivers such as the Loire River (1010 km), the Seine River, the Garonne River (525 km), the Rhône River (520 km) and the Rhine River (195 km).
Located in the temperate zone, France enjoys a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The average winter temperature is 0 - 8 0 C, the average summer temperature is 16 - 24 0 C, and the autumn and spring are cool. Due to the different geography of each region, the climate is also clearly distinguished in each region: Mediterranean climate, oceanic climate and continental climate.