The culture of giving in Korea is similar to the West, but has some “Eastern subtleties”.

Just like in Western countries, in Korea it is not customary to give knives and scissors as gifts. Red inscriptions are not used on gifts or packaging or postcards, since in Korea the names of the dead are written with this paint.

They do not give away sets or four-piece sets. The reason is that Koreans associate this number with death and misfortune.

It is not customary to give expensive gifts, because the recipient must “respond” with an equivalent gift.

Otherwise, the gifts do not differ from European ones. When coming to the house, be sure to give the hostess a small gift: sweets, flowers. Women are never given alcoholic drinks.

They give gifts during business meetings. They can be the most modest, symbolic. Usually these are office accessories.

Gifts are carefully packed in bright paper of red, yellow, green colors. a wrapped gift cannot be opened immediately, in the presence of strangers.

In Korea, as well as in other countries of the Far East, gifts are given extremely great importance. A gift, carefully and beautifully packaged, must be taken with you when going on a visit. Coming to any house empty-handed (Korean pin son-yro), especially if you are appearing there for the first time or after a long break, is a clear manifestation of bad manners. This especially applies to relationships between business partners, where the exchange of gifts is an almost inevitable ritual that accompanies any serious acquaintance. In all Korean stores - from huge expensive department stores to provincial village shops - there is a special section or counter reserved for gifts or gift sets - laid out in special boxes and beautifully packaged in advance.

Koreans' ideas about what can and cannot be given differ in many ways from Russians. Thus, Koreans do not see anything wrong with giving a friend or colleague a food package, a can of ham, or, say, underwear (however, recently, under American influence, recommendations have appeared to refrain from presenting the opposite to people you don’t know very well). donate panties or bras, but these recommendations by Mo Kyung-jung, “Saenghwal Yejeol Kaida (Guide to Everyday Rituals)”, Seoul, Ilsin Seojok Chulphansa, 1992, p. 122, are not strictly followed). Food gifts are also very common. On the occasion of the autumn holiday of Chuseok and the Lunar New Year, they often give assortments of canned food, meat tenderloin, vegetable oil (most often, sesame oil, which is very expensive and beloved by Koreans) or fresh fruit. Relatively recently introduced in Korea, cakes are presented on the occasion of birthdays and also at Christmas.

It is interesting what gifts are recommended to be given in one of the Korean manuals on the rules of good manners: for a wedding for the groom - briefcases, pens, boxes of cigarettes, wallets, for a wedding for the bride - handbags, jewelry, sets of tights, on the occasion of admission to university - briefcases, pens, dictionaries, watches, writing instruments, table lamps, for a man’s birthday - ties, shirts, pens, shoes, belts, for a woman’s birthday - cosmetic sets, scarves, jewelry, blouses, sets of tights, handbags. In addition, products are recommended as a gift, and, first of all, those that are considered specific to a given time of year or area. For example, in March or April it is quite appropriate to give a bucket of strawberries, and at the end of summer - a beautifully packaged box of melon to Mo Kyung-jung. "Saenghwal yejeol kaida (Guide to Daily Rituals)." Seoul, Ilsin sojok chulphansa, 1992. p. 123-127.

In contrast to the strictly observed practice in the West (and, to some extent, in Russia), the gift is not unpacked and looked at right there, in the presence of the giver. On the contrary, such behavior is considered impolite by Korean standards. Having received a gift, they are grateful for it and immediately put it aside to look at later.

In some cases, an envelope with money is a completely acceptable type of gift. It is customary, for example, to give money for a wedding; you can give it to close friends or relatives on the occasion of some family celebration. According to tradition, all guests who come to the wedding give envelopes with money to the newlyweds, while material gifts are given quite rarely at a wedding. It is also customary to give such envelopes during funerals.

An interesting form of gift are special coupons for the right to purchase goods for a certain amount in a department store. Such coupons play the role of a money substitute; they are given in cases where the presentation of ordinary banknotes would be considered indecent. These coupons (usually worth 50 or 100 thousand won, i.e. approximately $40 and $80) are actively issued by many department stores.

Another type of gift that is very common in Korea is rings. Koreans, including men, wear other rings in addition to wedding rings. Friends often exchange rings with each other. Rings are awarded to graduates of a school or university. A ring is a common gift from parents to a son or daughter who has successfully graduated from an educational institution or, conversely, entered it. Rings are given to each other by spouses on their wedding anniversary. Finally, during the very solemn first anniversary of a child's birth in Korea, the most common gift is a gold ring. Therefore, most Koreans, including men, constantly wear rings, which Russians often mistake for wedding rings. In fact, the ring on a Korean’s hand, although, as a rule, is associated with some important event in his life, can have very different and, at times, quite unexpected meanings for a Russian.

It is curious that it is customary to accept a gift with both hands. This, generally speaking, is one of the categorical requirements of traditional Korean etiquette. When during a conversation it is necessary to convey something to the interlocutor or, conversely, take it from him, then this object must be taken with both hands. This rule is observed especially strictly in cases where something is transferred to a person who is at a significantly higher level of the social ladder. Of course, in such a situation, the transfer of something is accompanied by a bow.

General rules

Women are not given alcohol. It is not customary to give expensive gifts (except for special occasions). Koreans will feel obligated to reciprocate with a gift of similar value. Knives or scissors are not given as gifts: it is believed that by giving such an item, a person seems to be trying to break off the relationship.

Gifts and cards with red inscriptions (the names of the deceased are written in red in Korea) and sets of 4 items (the number 4 is associated with death and failure) are also not given. As you can easily see, there are no big differences between South Korean and Western traditions. They lie in the little things, which are due to what is often called “oriental subtleties.” This is traditional etiquette, manners and some small features that give a special touch and national flavor.

#1 Money always comes in handy

As in all countries, one of the most common Korean gifts is money. But there are a few details to consider. The older the person, the larger the amount will be. On the other hand, corruption laws warn that this number should not be higher than a certain amount, otherwise such a gift may well be considered a bribe. So if you suddenly decide to give a cash gift to a teacher or manager, you better think about it carefully.

No. 3 People are greeted by their clothes, and a gift... by its packaging!

For many Koreans, especially young ones, packaging is very important - sometimes even more than the gift itself. Everything comes into play: rustling paper and textured fabric, sparkling glitter, dried flowers and shavings, thin ribbons, small cards... In general, if you want to properly wrap a gift in Korean, watch the scene with Rowan Atkinson from Love Actually.

What gifts do Korean men give to their beloved women?

Middle managers in large corporations in South Korea give their wives (and there is no other way, a bachelor will never climb the career ladder) designer jewelry in a paired set (rings, bracelets, watches). Or buy a special set of men's and women's underwear from an elite brand.

Clerks and other “office plankton” buy special pajamas for Christmas or New Year. As well as jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, sneakers and any other Korean clothes or shoes made in the same style. The business of such gifts is widespread in South Korea.

A high school student will give a pair of T-shirts, caps or some inexpensive accessories.

What gift do girls want to receive?

In South Korea, an interesting survey was conducted among high school girls to find out their likes and dislikes in birthday gifts. Business is sensitive to the slightest changes in the statistics of preferences of young Korean women.

A gift that is very want to get Korean girls.

• 21.6% – boyfriend (some want a prince in white, some a promising guy)
• 15.6% – an expensive fashion designer bag
• 15.4% – laptop
• 12.2% – tablet computer
• 9.4% – accessories
• 7.3% – household electrical appliances and electronics
• 5.9% – perfume
• 5.4% – smartphone
• 5.0% – “first kiss” (at school, morals and time are strict, so there are a lot of “unkissed” people)
• 2.2% – flowers

A gift that don't want to get Korean girls.

• 10.7% – perfume
• 9.2% – “first kiss”
• 7.8% – household electrical appliances and electronics
• 6.1% – smartphone
• 5.6% – boyfriend
• 3.7% – accessories
• 3.1% – an expensive fashion designer bag
• 2.9% – tablet computer
• 1.7% – laptop

In general, follow them and understand what the girls are thinking about. Wind in my head.

Well, if a handsome middle-aged Korean man believes that he has been married for a long time, has seen everything, knows everything, is tired of everything, then gift sellers offer to buy his wife a “sexy schoolgirl”, “nurse” or “maid” costume, and if this will not help him rediscover the sexy Korean woman in her, then it is better to turn to specialists of a different profile.

Buy your wife a “sexy schoolgirl”, “nurse” or “maid” costume, it will help rediscover the sexy Korean woman in her.

201 comments

It’s probably cool for Koreans on RuNet - nicknames are always free

Typical Russian sweets))))

You write just like a Russian already =)

I’m learning Korean and wanted to visit both North and South Korea in a year.. Can you tell me what to see there?

Nobody is perfect.

For some reason, VODKA immediately caught my eye.

haha)) how did you find out?

I saw a Korean equivalent of vodka, only in tubes.

That's right, vodka is the best alcohol)

If you don’t have money for normal alcohol, then probably yes.

and what do you, sir, consider normal alcohol?

Single malt whiskey, cognac aged 7 or more years (Armenian is possible), agricultural rum aged 12 years or more.

why do you think it's normal? judge by price or by herd instinct?

In terms of taste, it goes without saying. The stinking drink called “vodka,” which any normal person tries to drink/snack as quickly as possible, I haven’t consumed for a long time, because its taste is vile and disgusting. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s Gray Goose, Finland or Putinka - the taste is still disgusting.

First of all, there is no arguing about tastes. To me, whiskey tastes like rare rubbish

secondly, the blow to the body from distillates is such that mother, don’t worry, unlike vodka, which, of course, also does not heal, but in any case does not kill so much.

No offense, but in 99% of cases, those who do not like the taste of whiskey have not tried anything better than the red label. But as for the harm from rectified products and distillates, just go to Google. A very common misconception today is that vodka is less harmful. It’s just the opposite; vodka is the most harmful and dangerous of strong alcoholic drinks.

Vodka is different from vodka.

My dad distilled moonshine, then somehow cunningly filtered it many times.

The output product was drunk like “warm water”, I don’t know how to describe it, but it was a tasty thing.

After this I can’t stand regular vodka, it’s kind of disgusting =/

I just took the Celsius vodka in vain, it’s bad vodka) I should have taken the green stamp)))

Gift wrapper's response:

The choice of a gift for the Korean New Year greatly depends on who you are going to give it to: a Korean or a friend with whom you are studying oriental languages ​​and culture. The only thing that can be said for sure is that a gift must be present; it is an integral part of this holiday. As far as I know, today in Korea it is popular to give various gift sets. The composition of this set can be anything: from a set of oral care products to a basket of gastronomic delights. Gift sets are an excellent gift for any occasion, for a person of any gender and age. You can create such a set taking into account the individual tastes of the person to whom the gift is intended. You can complete it with cosmetics or sweets, wines or tea-coffee, dishes or even stationery. By packing the set in a wicker basket sealed in film, an eye-catching box with a transparent lid, or even a hand-sewn canvas bag, you will receive a necessary, practical, and, at the same time, beautiful and original gift. As for traditional gifts for this holiday, accepted among Koreans, I have not heard about them. I only know about the obligatory sacrifices, the greeting of older family members by younger ones, and a joint family breakfast where they eat divided dishes. Maybe the tradition of giving gifts came later? It is also worth adding that if we are talking about choosing a gift not for a Korean friend, but for Russian friends who are interested in this culture and language, then it is worth giving them something specifically Korean: a souvenir from this country, a calligraphy set, a dictionary, a Korean audio course language, etc.

Sincerely, Evgenia Shaffert.

Watch the video: WHAT TO GIVE TO KOREANS? WHAT SOUVENIRS SHOULD I BRING FROM RUSSIA?

White Day is approaching and if you don't have a gift for your girlfriend yet, then these recommendations will be useful.

In Korean culture, Valentine's Day (February 14) is a day for men to feel loved and spoiled with gifts, while White Day (March 14) is a day for women to receive lots of gifts and love.

According to Koreans, this is a list of what not to give a girl on White Day.

1. Baskets of candy

Baskets of lollipops are a slightly extravagant symbol of love for the woman in your life. He looks big, but is often referred to as “cute trash.”

2. Branded luxury bags

It is a common misconception that women have some kind of obsession with branded bags, as some women believe that they are overpriced. Receiving expensive gifts may also make you think that a woman should give you an equally expensive gift. Finally, Korean women may be concerned about the fact that they will seem too materialistic, as they love receiving gifts as extravagant as these.

3. Bulk toys

Many Korean women have commented that they don't like huge teddy bears, especially because they don't have the space in their room to accommodate such a toy. They also don't want to be noticed by bringing such a toy home. They are also impossible to wash.

4. Bouquet of flowers

Flowers are the most common gift for any occasion. Flowers quickly wither if they are not properly cared for. For many women, a dying flower is a rather depressing picture.

5. Coupons/Gift Icons

According to Korean women, coupons and gift icons (coupons that can be sent to your friends via Kakaotalk or other Korean social networks) show that their partner did not put effort or meaning into the gift. Women are more likely to want to receive a physical gift that conveys their partner's attitude.

6. Lingerie

While some women may appreciate such a gift, many Korean women do not want to receive such a provocative gift. Several Korean women noted that such a gift is more satisfying to the giver than to the recipient.

7. Matching clothes

Matching clothes are a common gift, so according to Koreans, this is not exactly a White Day gift. Women recommend giving such gifts on dates in relationships, because White Day is a special holiday!

8. Going to the store together to buy a gift

If a woman's partner takes her shopping to pick out a gift for her, he may upset her because it shows that the man has not done any preparation or put any effort into choosing the gift.

9. Jewelry that doesn't suit a girl

Women love jewelry, but why do they need accessories that they will never wear. Every woman has her own preferences in jewelry, so you need to know for sure, otherwise this item will sit in her jewelry box and never see the light of day.

When can I open a gift?

In South Korea, it is not pleasant, as in Russia, to open a gift immediately in front of the giver. On the contrary, such behavior will be considered impolite.

You should first warmly thank for the gift, and then put it aside without opening it so you can unpack the box alone.

Did you know?

In Korea, there is a curious form of gift certificates that are familiar to us. A coupon for a purchase at some grocery hypermarket is considered a good gift there. Slightly exotic, isn't it? :-)

Lovely gifts for lovers

In South Korea, there is an interesting type of gift called “khopheul”, which means “couple”.

Gifts in this style are sets of absolutely identical things for him and for her. That is, dressing exactly the same for Koreans is a cute manifestation of feelings.

Did you know?

A survey was conducted among Korean high school girls to find out what gifts they like: in first place (21.6%) is a boyfriend, then (15.6%) is a handbag from a famous designer, but only 2.2% of girls want flowers.

Gift giving culture in South Korea

What should you not give to a Korean?

In Korea, it is not customary to give each other sharp objects - knives or scissors. Everything is simple here: as our not-Korean grandmothers say, “you’ll cut off your friendship.”

Another unwanted gift is a beautiful handkerchief (yes, that same one - cotton, with embroidery, in a beautiful box). According to Koreans, cloth handkerchiefs are, firstly, unhygienic, and secondly, they lead to tears and separation.

Did you know?

If you enclose a card as a gift, do not sign it in red ink - it is a bad omen. And it’s better not to buy white chrysanthemums either.

How is it customary to give gifts in South Korea?

Raise your hands those who love receiving gifts. We love too, yes, yes. And now - those who like to give them. Thank you. Surely many raised both hands at once. This means that giving a gift is just as joyful and important as receiving it. So let's take a look at the giving culture in South Korea.

#1 Money always comes in handy As in all countries, one of the most common Korean gifts is money. But there are a few details to consider. The older the person, the larger the amount will be. On the other hand, laws on corruption warn that this number should not be higher than a certain one, otherwise such a gift may well be considered a bribe. So if you suddenly decide to give a cash gift to a teacher or manager, you better think about it carefully.

No. 2 Certificate - a win-win option! One more thing - just like with us, relatives or friends may be offended if you give them money. You don’t know, they say, our habits and hobbies, you don’t follow your inner world and don’t react to the subtle movements of the soul. Another thing is gift certificates - for example, to a beauty salon or a cosmetics store. And the inner world is not offended, and the donor is almost out of breath after the shopping run.

No. 3 People are greeted by their clothes, and a gift... by its packaging! For many Koreans, especially young ones, packaging is very important - sometimes even more than the gift itself. Everything comes into play: rustling paper and textured fabric, sparkling glitter, dried flowers and shavings, thin ribbons, small cards... In general, if you want to properly wrap a gift in Korean, watch the scene with Rowan Atkinson from Love Actually.

#4 The lower the bow, the more respect! The rules of Korean good manners state that a gift should be presented with both hands, preferably with a deep bow. This ceremonial gesture will express your deep respect for the recipient and at the same time help to stretch your lower back a little.

#5 Washing powder as a gift? Great idea! Koreans receive some of the most unusual gifts for us for housewarming. So, you can easily get soap, washing powder, dishwashing detergent and even toilet paper as a gift. In huge, seriously sized packages. These are undoubtedly useful gifts, but still... To figure it out, let's turn on associative thinking. Soap gives a thick, rich foam, and with it the family's wealth increases. Toilet paper is long, soft and light, like your future long and happy life. Everything is quite logical, isn’t it? :)

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on this page of my website I presented works made as gifts for Koreans, these are portrait nesting dolls with hand-drawn portraits from photos in the works of a Moscow portrait painter, in general very funny works, come take a look and please your eyes and heart

on this page of my website I presented photographs of Russian nesting dolls with custom-made portraits based on customer photographs as a gift to Korean citizens. Currently, due to sanctions from NATO countries, business with Europe is catastrophically declining, and business with Eastern countries is growing, one of such countries is Korea. Russia is initially a multinational civilization, all the founders of Russia were completely different nationalities and yet we consider them all Russian, and it is quite possible that we see around Russian Ukrainians, Russian Belarusians, Russian Georgians, Russian Jews and, of course, Russian Koreans... It is the making of gifts for I dedicated a page of this website to the Koreans

It's been two decades since we began to discover South Korea. At least at the official level, Moscow established diplomatic relations with this country in 1990. And what do we know about this country now? Let's admit it to ourselves: with the exception of a small number of Korean historians, the Republic of Korea remains a mystery to all other Russians. Almost every home has Samsung TVs and LG pressure cookers, many of us drive Korean cars - Hyundai and Kia, some practice taekwondo, but what do we know about the country itself and its inhabitants? At best, we operate with a set of fragmentary and not entirely objective information. Very often we cannot say which of the two Koreas - South or North - is capitalist, and in which “the leader and sun of the nation, Kim Jong Il, lives.” There are also many who believe that “they are all there in the Far East” - the Chinese, Koreans and Japanese - look the same and differ little from each other in terms of character and traditions. Perhaps some consolation will be the fact that the South Koreans themselves are not far behind us - the Russia they imagine has practically nothing in common with the real Russia. Russia for many Koreans is a country of eternal winter, and a Russian person cannot spend a day without a liter of vodka, but at the same time he somehow manages to create destructive missiles and make the whole world applaud the national ballet. As they say, in this regard, we are even with the Koreans, but it is hardly worth continuing to cling to the extremely crude or completely fantastic ideas that have existed among our peoples for a long time. Why do many Koreans, once you get to know them, ask about your age, who now owns the Daewoo corporation, whether dog meat is really a national dish, whether South and North Korea want to unify, and in general, why Korea is called Korea and how it is called by the residents themselves, what should you be prepared for when going to a restaurant with Koreans or agreeing to have a glass or two?.. I will try to answer these, as well as many other questions. This book is a kind of quintessence of the impressions I formed after I studied this country for eighteen years and lived in it for eleven years. However, I would like to immediately make a reservation: everything that will be said here about the country and its inhabitants applies only to South Korea, which is officially called the Republic of Korea and whose capital is located in Seoul. This Korea is capitalist, from where cars, computers, refrigerators and much, much more are brought to us. North Korea is a completely different matter. Of course, certain parallels can be drawn between the South and the North, but most often the country of Kim Jong Il and the Juche ideas is very different from its southern neighbor, because both the history and religion there are completely different. 1. The Land of Eternal Students As you know, the unofficial name of Korea is the Land of Morning Freshness. However, I would call it the Land of Eternal Students. Maybe I just came across certain people, but after eleven years in South Korea, I got the impression that Koreans are either studying or have just completed some courses and are looking for new ones in order to further increase their baggage knowledge, develop skills in one area or another, receive an incredible number of various certificates, certificates and other crusts. Moreover, this applies not only to those who, due to circumstances, must show zeal in their studies, that is, schoolchildren and students. No, if a Korean gets a job, he immediately goes to foreign language or computer literacy courses or prepares to take state tests, for example, to become an electrical engineer... Time passes, our Korean is getting older and older, soon it’s time for him to retire . What is he doing? Takes and enrolls, for example, in gardening courses. After retiring, any Korean has a lot of free time, which he prefers to spend on studying. Korean grandparents willingly enroll in various clubs: from a drumming club to, again, computer literacy courses. In short, it doesn’t matter what you learn, the main thing is to gain new knowledge. And if you really don’t want to get another crust, then you should put on a businesslike appearance, and at parties with friends you can sigh heavily: well, I’ll sort out all the household chores and go learn Chinese. We say “sonsengnim” - we think “deeply respected mentor.” While the famous leader of the world proletariat called on everyone to “study, study and study again,” in Korea this slogan was actively put into practice. Moreover, for many Koreans it has simply become the meaning of life. If you tell a Korean that you are studying somewhere, you will immediately hear an approving response: “Well done, keep it up, studying is good!” Indeed, in South Korea, studying is an honorable activity. It is no coincidence that all kinds of teachers and mentors are so highly respected. Even if you are twenty years younger than a Korean, but for some unthinkable reason you find yourself in his teacher, he will respectfully call you “my sonsennim,” that is, mentor, or, as they say in Japan, “sensei.” When I was a sophomore at Seoul State University, three graduate students, each about ten years older than me, approached me one day. At that time, I had already more or less understood the local orders and customs, so I immediately jumped up from my chair and politely asked what the respected gentlemen, graduate students, wanted from me. (You need to do exactly this and no other way, if you, of course, want to play by Korean rules.) They turned to me, naturally, on a first-name basis and said that they would like to study Russian for general development, asking me to teach several lessons. Of course, they promised to pay for the classes. And although I knew that one of them was going to join the army next year, and the other two were going on an internship in the USA, their request did not surprise me at all, because everyone always needs to study in Korea. However, the drastic change that happened to them after the start of classes simply amazed me. If earlier they addressed me as “you”, and I could only say “you” to each of them, and during the conversation I had to emphasize my lower status in every possible way and express respect, then in class everything changed - they addressed me extremely respectfully , constantly calling him “sonsennim”, that is, mentor. The guys were all quite good, with humor, so at first I decided that they were just making fun of me. But no, I somehow accidentally heard that in conversation with each other they called me “Oleg-sonsennim.” I tried to explain to them that such treatment was not necessary, but they resolutely stopped all my attempts to change the situation. “You are now our teacher, it can’t be any other way,” said the eldest of my students. Of course, the attitude does not always change radically when you are asked to become a conversational foreign language teacher for a while, but this is not uncommon. At least during the classes themselves, you will invariably be a “sonsennim.” There is no doubt that the general attitude towards learning and the diligence of Koreans in this area was greatly influenced by Confucianism, which, among other things, placed knowledge at the forefront. Another question is that in the old days, studying often came down to memorizing ancient treatises, composing poems and quoting them at every opportunity and without it. Nevertheless, Confucianism took deep roots in the souls of the inhabitants of the Land of Morning Freshness, and it was thanks to it that modern Koreans were formed with their boundless thirst for knowledge. It is no coincidence that their regional neighbors - the Chinese and Japanese - who, along with the Koreans, were in the area of ​​​​influence of this doctrine, are also famous for their zeal and diligence. Hence, by the way, a reverent attitude towards the mentor, because Confucianism names five main types of social relationships: ruler - subjects, father - son, teacher - student, etc. Teachers have always been the pillars of Korean society and enjoyed boundless respect. In the modern world, little has changed in this regard and the status of teachers is still extremely high: they can count not only on a good salary, but also on the respectful attitude of others. In the main royal palace of South Korea, Gyeongbukgung, in the square in front of the throne room, you can see two long rows of pillars located parallel to each other. These columns marked the places where senior officials were supposed to stand when meeting the monarch. The higher your rank, the closer your place, indicated by a column, will be to the throne. On one side, the right, were civil officials; on the other, the left, less honorable, were military officials. Of course, if there are places of more or less honor, then someone must inevitably occupy the least prestigious ones, but in this case such a division is not at all accidental. The arrangement of the columns reflected the Koreans' attitude to study and military affairs: the first was always considered more honorable in South Korea than the second. In this regard, Korea managed to bypass even Japan and China, gaining unofficial recognition as “the most Confucian country in the world,” despite the fact that this teaching originated in China. Of course, the Koreans recognized that it was impossible to exist without talented military personnel, both soldiers and generals. However, each father reasoned something like this: if there is a choice, then it would be better for my son to become a teacher and learn to interpret ancient texts than to put on armor and run around the fields in it. Learning a couple of pages from a sacred treatise or composing a poem according to all the rules, showing off your talents in front of others, is a worthy and honorable thing, but scattering a dozen enemies with a sword is so-so, of course, it’s also not bad, but... In short, being a scientist is more prestigious. And although much has changed in South Korea, teachers and scientists continue to be highly respected. Say a good word for a poor student A university diploma in South Korea is not an ordinary piece of paper with stamps and grades: receiving it is an important milestone in the life of every person, the main goal that any student strives for. An indispensable condition not just for a successful career, but also for getting a more or less decent job was obtaining a higher education. A university diploma is considered the best dowry for both men and women, although with the latter fifteen to twenty years ago everything was somewhat different. Korean sociologists, in the course of one of their studies, proved that when choosing a future life partner, Koreans first of all pay attention to education and only then to appearance and wealth. Some Koreans may want to object, but many of them require an educated spouse to start a family. You can pin for a pretty waitress from the cafeteria, or a strong guy from a gas station, but you can only start a family with a man who has a university diploma in his hands. Of course, life makes its own adjustments and not everyone does this, but the vast majority of Koreans strive for this. The current situation is very worrying for South Korean sociologists, as the stratification of society begins, a kind of caste emerges, when graduates of prestigious universities look for a mate only among their own kind, and people who have only completed high school are practically unable to go beyond the boundaries of their social circle. Such discrimination greatly affects wage levels. In South Korea, those with a college degree earn about one and a half times more than those with a high school education, and about two and a half times more than those who failed to complete high school. At the same time, the gap increases from year to year. After this, how can you not strive to send your child to university?.. It is not surprising that higher education is in great demand in South Korea. If you want to more or less succeed in life or find a good bride/groom, go to university. That is why now three-quarters of the entire percentage of Korean youth one way or another receive the coveted diploma. The road to university is the road to a normal life, as any Korean believes. The whole life of a Korean from a very young age is subordinated to preparing for admission to university. To be honest, sometimes you just feel sorry for Korean children, because their lot is far from childish. In recent years, intensive preparation for school, and then for entering university, begins already in kindergartens. Here is a typical Korean child's schedule. In addition to kindergarten or preparatory classes at school, he usually goes to several different sections and clubs. For girls in their youth, the piano or violin is considered almost obligatory, for boys - taekwondo, football, etc. It would be nice if both boys and girls also began to attend additional classes in mathematics and a foreign language. You ask: “What about walking and playing in the yard?” There’s simply no time for that! As you grow older, all kinds of sports sections and music classes gradually disappear. An exception is made only for those who were purposefully sent to a sports school or are going to be prepared to enter a music school, but there are few such children. For everyone else, there is no time left for all sorts of taekwondo - the piano, because this knowledge will not subsequently help you enter a university. Their place is taken by all sorts of “hagwons”, that is, private courses where they actually teach the same set of subjects as in school - mathematics, foreign and native languages, hieroglyphics, etc. There are even special courses that help with homework . By the way, I could not find anyone among my friends who did not attend such additional classes. The educational process lasts from morning until late evening and is not interrupted on weekends or holidays. Go out into the streets of a large Korean city at about ten o'clock in the evening - you will be surprised by the number of schoolchildren: they are immediately easy to identify, since they are all dressed in uniform. If at this time you find yourself in areas where private educational institutions are concentrated, you will be overwhelmed by waves of schoolchildren spilling onto the streets. However, this picture is more typical for Seoul, since in the capital private teachers are prohibited by law from working after ten in the evening. The authorities took this kind of measures under pressure from doctors, who simply forbid children to study so much - they also need to sleep. However, they are currently trying to get around these restrictions: some take semi-legal courses, others go to satellite cities of Seoul, where study time is not limited. As a result, children can easily study every day until midnight or even one in the morning. The intensity of the educational process increases every year. All these measures are aimed at preparing the student as ideally as possible for the Korean analogue of our Unified State Exam (USE), because the child’s future fate depends on its results, namely which university he will get into. However, all this is just flowers. The real educational hell for Korean schoolchildren begins in high school - continuous study, the maximum number of various courses and an eternal lack of sleep... This is the lot of high school students in South Korea. Research has shown that two-thirds of high school students in South Korea sleep less than five hours a day. Four out of five respondents admitted that they constantly feel sleepy during the day. 84% (data for 2007) of high school students have regular sleep disorders. Agree, this is a huge stress for a young growing organism. The day before the Unified State Exam, a series of reports are broadcast on all channels, all newspapers publish blocks of articles telling about how best to prepare for the Unified State Exam from the point of view of psychology and medicine: what tea to drink, how much sleep, what to eat... For example, I remember a healthy advice from one professor: “Young people, even if you get a good night’s sleep, you won’t learn anything in a couple of hours before the exams, but you will be completely exhausted.” Alas, not everyone listens to this advice. And then comes the culmination - the day when the Unified State Exam is taken, a very special period that is remembered by everyone who visited Korea at that time. “Korea is passing the exam” is a phrase that immediately comes to mind. The passing of the Unified State Examination by school graduates is the main news of the day in all media. Already during the day, the first tentative estimates of the level of difficulty of the current state exam appear, which are compared with tests of previous years. Naturally, this becomes one of the main news of the day. Koreans are taking unprecedented measures to help schoolchildren get through this day as comfortably as possible. For example, they are delivered to the exam site not only by special groups of taxi drivers who gather in advance - taxi drivers are assisted by civil servants who own their own cars. If on this day you are tired of standing in a traffic jam, then jump out of the car and shout that your son is late for the Unified State Exam - they will immediately give way to you. South Korea is a small country, located in the same time zone, so envelopes with exam questions are opened everywhere at the same time. In the morning, the authorities close all the country's airports for half an hour and stop military exercises, if any. At this time, listening tests (for knowledge of a foreign language) are being held, and God forbid the noise of a distant plane prevents you from hearing a tricky word in a foreign language. Therefore, excuse me, dear foreign airlines (there is no need to explain to the locals the importance of the moment - they understand it themselves), but your planes will land later on this day - our kids are taking the listening test. It’s simply painful to look at the parents of schoolchildren on this day. They are so worried that you begin to seriously fear for their health. It must be said that on the eve of exams, mothers and fathers pray for hours. (In temples and churches, by the way, a common service is: the priest will pray for a hundred days for the schoolchild to successfully pass the Unified State Exam.) On this significant day, the courtyards of the schools are crowded, as children from junior classes will definitely come to support their older comrades. However, the silence is deathly silent - God forbid it disturbs those who are poring over the test tasks. And now, the tests are over, now you need to wait a few weeks for the Unified State Exam results and figure out which university to apply to. At this time, several schoolchildren who answered one hundred percent of the Unified State Exam questions will definitely be shown on TV - these are the real heroes of the country. Someone, on the contrary, has invested too much effort in preparation and is overly upset by failure. As sad as it may be, after the results were announced, a wave of suicide attempts swept across the country - the disappointment of some was too great. The authorities are trying to help the kids and, through the media, they are promoting an idea that boils down to the following postulate: “Nothing, the main thing is that you tried, even if you get bad grades, it’s not the end of the world, you have your whole life ahead of you - and you will definitely make up for lost time.” However, not all schoolchildren listen to these wise words, since advice is advice, but too much still depends on the result of the Unified State Exam. You cannot enter a Korean university solely for money. This is why so many Korean schoolchildren, realizing their inability to withstand the pre-examination race, go abroad after the Unified State Examination, because in a number of countries you can enroll in a university simply by paying a certain amount. For not very diligent children of rich parents, this is a very common way to solve the problem. In addition, you can get a university diploma and learn a foreign language well, which is extremely valued in Korea. After passing the Unified State Exam, student time begins. It must be said that in South Korea there is a strict hierarchy of all universities. The three most prestigious are Seoul State University (SSU), Yonsei and Koryo. If you combine the first letters of the names of these universities in English, you get SKY, which in English, as you know, means “sky.” The Koreans have a saying that plays on this coincidence: “SKY is the road to the sky.” The sky here means success in life, climbing the career ladder, securing a place in high society. The university is a place where schoolchildren, exhausted by constant study, can finally relax. Many professors understand young people very well and often make concessions so that students recover from the inhuman stress of preparing for the Unified State Exam. The same period saw the most active participation of students in a variety of circles (“tonyari”) that are not related to studies. Korean universities in this regard are a real paradise: classical and American football, photography, national dances, taekwondo, Bible study, painting, shooting, drumming... Do whatever your heart desires. However, not all students can breathe freely, and in recent years, even SKY is becoming less and less a guarantee of a prestigious job. What does it mean? This means that we need to study again! From my experience studying at SSU (Seoul State University), I will say that for the first two years, Korean students actually relax somewhat, but then it seems that they are in the same mode as before the Unified State Exam. The closer the graduation from university and the need for employment, the more students go to the same “hagwons” familiar from school - this time to prepare for interviews with companies. According to the same surveys, two-thirds of students use the services of private teachers. Most often they go to English courses (language proficiency tests are now actually taken in every Korean company when applying for a job), in second place are additional classes on knowledge of computer software and information technology, in third place is preparation for all kinds of qualifying exams. The number of Koreans going abroad for internships is growing from year to year. Most often they choose the USA or China. This is also a very effective, albeit expensive way to achieve what you want. Thus, over the past eleven years, the number of Koreans who have gone to study abroad has tripled and continues to grow rapidly. Being a foreigner, I quite easily got into the number one Korean university at that time - Seoul State University. At that time (1994), there were few foreign students in Korean universities, especially in regular faculties and not in language courses, so foreigners were readily accepted. So, by chance and far from merit, I found myself in the place where the elite of South Korea is forged and where those who passed the Unified State Exam best of all end up. Indeed, graduates of this university make up the majority of diplomats, government employees, various departments (the civil service is one of the most prestigious places to work in Korea), major concerns, etc. I was very impressed by how these guys study. Yes, there were those who relaxed after entering SSU, there were girls who were simply looking for a life partner at the university and were going to become housewives, but the majority of students really studied day and night. For example, you had to take a seat in the library, which was open 24 hours a day, before seven o’clock in the morning, otherwise there was nowhere to sit. Those who were planning to enter the civil service and take special exams tried especially hard. It must be said that in Korea, regardless of education, you can pass an exam and become a judge, diplomat, employee of the Ministry of Finance or a state research institute in the field of electronics. Just pass the exam and that’s it. However, these tests are extremely difficult and truly the best students from all over the country apply for the place you have chosen. I studied at the Faculty of International Relations, so most of my fellow Korean students were preparing for diplomat exams, and this again meant lack of sleep for several years, numerous preparatory courses and other “habitual” workload. However, this is not surprising, because the competition for the state exam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was several thousand people per place. It was carried out in three stages. Honestly, everyone in our department studied diligently, especially since all the students showed some of the best results in the country on the Unified State Exam, but only six people from our department passed the first stage of the MFA exam. As a result, they became diplomats, having overcome the bar of both the second and third stages, only two of them left the course. True, despite all the diligence of ordinary students, prestigious places do not go to random people - the children of the same diplomats, or wealthy businessmen, or prominent scientists. However, this is not about exam fraud, but only about the fact that successful parents, as a rule, are able to provide their children with a better education from the very beginning. Once in the appropriate environment and provided with strong (and, as a result, highly paid) mentors, they show better results in exams. This was evident from my fellow students from SSU. They didn’t remember their parents, but in the end it turned out that one’s father was the head of a department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, another was a deputy minister of some industry, and the third was the director of a large state research institute. True, there were some geniuses from the provinces, and even quite a lot of those who, thanks only to their perseverance and talent, managed to get ahead of their richer peers, but in general, starting conditions are not always equal for everyone. Here is the standard path that a person should take to become part of the Korean elite: a prestigious kindergarten, where they immediately begin to teach English, then an elite high school (in Seoul there is one school called Gyeonggi, a lot of ministers came from it), preferably the best in the provinces, then SSU, finally, master's or graduate school in the USA, and then you can return to your homeland - either take civil service exams, or find another job you like. As a rule, you won’t be lost with such a “background” in Korea, but it’s also not easy to get. But ordinary SSU students who do not come from famous and wealthy families are often extraordinary individuals. I was once amazed by his knowledge by a student with whom I accidentally got into conversation in the SSU cafeteria. He was preparing to become a diplomat. Although facts from the history of Russia make up a very small part of the knowledge required for a Korean diplomat, theoretically, questions on the exam can also be asked about it (as well as about Latin America and Africa). So the interlocutor immediately began to list the names of the princes of Novgorod from memory, lamenting that he did not know the history of Russia well. Despite all his extensive knowledge, he ultimately failed even the first stage of the MFA exams. Another acquaintance said that he knew “only twenty-five thousand words of English.” Out of curiosity, I decided to check it out by taking a dictionary and closing the translation. Well, he actually actually learned the entire vocabulary. However, in his own words, he does not even try to pass the diplomat exam, as he has insufficient vocabulary. In short, becoming a diplomat in South Korea is at least as easy as flying into space. However, it is not much easier to pass the exam to become a judge or try to occupy other government positions. At the same time, it must be admitted that among Koreans, SSU students have the reputation of those who “even in their dreams try to read textbooks and know nothing but study.” But the dedication to study and perseverance of even ordinary Koreans is truly amazing. Upon graduation, work begins in a company or ministry. It would seem that this is where learning ends. But no, Koreans are again waiting for all sorts of courses, for example English, which can only be attended in their free time from work - either at dawn or in the evening. (This is why there are so many courses in Korea that take place early in the morning or late in the evening.) If you refuse to attend courses, then you can’t count on a promotion. In general, a “lazy” employee can simply be fired, since he “does not strive to expand his horizons.” There is no need to talk about the fact that official duties must be performed without a hitch - this goes without saying. However, there is a downside to Korea's powerful educational system. In general, Koreans study more than other peoples and attach more importance to obtaining a university diploma. But often all education consists only of mechanical memorization of huge amounts of information. Then what you have memorized just needs to be conveyed in your head to the Unified State Exam or some other test and splashed out on the form or teachers. After this, the knowledge is no longer needed and the information received can be forgotten. The Korean education system is accused, and in many ways rightly, of not stimulating the development of original thinking, but only helping to develop memory well. In many ways, it seems, this situation was predetermined by the Confucian education system, where the emphasis was placed precisely on memorizing ancient sacred texts, the appropriate pieces of which had to be able to quote at the right time. Do Koreans study a lot? Yes many! Are they diligent? Absolutely! Their dedication in this regard is simply amazing. However, the quality of knowledge itself leaves much to be desired. However, they themselves know about this. We should not forget that all these clubs - courses - additional activities that accompany a Korean throughout his entire adult life, from a very young age to old age, simply deprive him of the opportunity to develop socially: to communicate normally with peers, to acquire the necessary everyday life skills, what is called life experience. Korean adults often give the impression of overgrown children. My stories are about how my class and I periodically went on hikes at school, spontaneously in our yard - and not as part of a specially created circle! – a good football team appeared, whose players I still communicate with, the Korean students listened with envy. After all, they simply had no time left for entertainment, since they had to prepare for entering a university. Koreans themselves realize their mistakes, admit that in the pursuit of the best diploma they lose a lot, that even in the USA, which many Koreans look at as an ideal, schoolchildren enjoy much greater freedom, but still follow the same path. At SSU I had the most friends from the physical education department - they were actively involved not only in their classes, but also in sports and were more relaxed than their peers. At the same time, they were not uneducated fools, otherwise they simply would not have gotten into the number one Korean university. At least they didn’t have to prepare, for example, for the notorious exams in order to obtain the post of diplomat, and this approach to education left time for something else besides studying - for the same hikes in the mountains, joint trips to ski resorts, etc. True, it should be noted that serving in the army helps many Koreans shake themselves up and look at life from a different perspective, including communicating with peers who did not put so much effort into their studies at one time. Although the cult of education now reigns in the army. Students who join the armed forces for two years can not only pull the soldier's burden, but also listen to some lectures and take exams so as not to waste time. At the university, as already mentioned, some slightly slow down the pace of the educational race. For example, one day I came across the results of a study by the Institute of Education at Korea University. According to his data, more than half of Korean university students do not study for even an hour a day, only every fifth study for two or more hours. I don’t know, at SSU I got the impression that all the students basically do is study, even when they eat. But I won’t argue, especially since Seoul State University is a special university. But, whatever one may say, the student years are a kind of respite before joining a company. And then study again after the end of the working day, so as not to leave the distance, “to be on the level”... Koreans themselves realize that often their desire to get an education all their lives goes beyond the bounds of reason, but they have not yet been able to change their mentality. The cult of knowledge still reigns everywhere. If you don’t earn another “crust”, someone else will be promoted; If you pass the English exam poorly, you will be fired from the company, despite all your previous merits. That’s why all children can do is spend late hours on courses and extra lessons from a very early age. Their parents act in many ways the same way, only at the same time they also bear the burden of family, work, and all sorts of everyday worries. 2. Hard work in Korean Various international scientific institutes and organizations periodically conduct research, trying to identify the most industrious nations. The category is quite vague, but one way or another it is possible to draw some conclusions. And almost always South Koreans make it into the top three, and often they even take the honorable first place. Are Koreans really hardworking? Undoubtedly. The South Korean economy is the best proof of this. About thirty years ago, the country was one of the poorest countries in the world, the main exports were wigs, plywood and seafood, the per capita income was less than one hundred dollars. What now? Thirteenth in the world in terms of gross national product, well-deserved fame as one of the most technologically developed powers, and Korean cars, computers, electronics, and expensive petrochemical products are exported to almost all countries of the world. The experience of the Republic of Korea in modernizing the country is recognized as one of the most successful. Western experts use this state as an example for those countries that are trying to get out of poverty. This success is explained by a combination of factors, including the global economic situation and assistance from other countries, but, perhaps, the most important component of this breakthrough is the Korean industriousness, the willingness to work diligently, diligently, efficiently, day and night, while receiving a small salary. So you can’t take away the hard work of Koreans. Of course, times are somewhat different now. Koreans will not work for pennies; citizens of a number of countries in Southeast Asia, China, Nepal, Bangladesh and others are invited to do the most difficult and dangerous work. But still, Korean hard work has not gone away. Take, for example, employees of Korean companies. How much annual leave do you think most Koreans get? Four to five working days for company employees and seven for government employees. Two weeks is the ultimate dream of an ordinary Korean; only employees of Korean representative offices of foreign companies receive such leave. And even then, even these four or five days may be asked to take two days off so that “a hole does not form,” otherwise other employees will not be able to withstand the additional load, which will become unbearable for them. When I said that in Russia, as a rule, vacation lasts a month, many Koreans simply did not believe me. How can you work like this? Take it and not show up at work for a whole month? This approach is very difficult for Korean employees to understand. Until recently, almost all Korean companies had a six-day work week. True, on Saturday they still worked half a day or Saturday every other Saturday, but still... During the reign of President Roh Moo-hyun (2003–2008), the state undertook to ease the unbearable burden of its citizens and called on firms to introduce a five-day working week. This campaign began with civil servants who were prohibited from coming to work on Saturday. However, in private firms, employees still worked six days (five and a half to be precise). Only after the government began to put pressure on businessmen, asking, demanding, hinting at the advisability of introducing a five-day week, did some progress begin, albeit with difficulty. And what a howl was raised by businessmen and all kinds of experts! They said that in “our age of limitless and fierce competition,” one should not give in to slack, and the government’s actions undermine the competitiveness of the Korean economy. However, little by little, many companies, although by no means all, switched to a five-day work week. There are still many who work six days a week. Just remember that in addition to all this “happiness”, vacation is only for five days... A similar situation has developed with the length of the working day. Koreans are one of those nations that do not consider it shameful to stay late at work. Formally, the working day in Korea lasts, as in most countries, from nine in the morning to six in the evening, with an hour break for lunch. This is formal, but in reality, employees often work overtime for several hours every day. This state of affairs is considered completely normal, and no one is openly indignant. Slowly, of course, they will complain, but they will not demand that the boss adhere to a fixed working day. This is why, by the way, civil service is so popular in Korea - the pay may not be that much (albeit decent), but at 18:00 you can safely leave. This is not the case in private structures. True, with the coming to power at the end of 2007 of President Lee Myung-bak, who in the past was a major businessman, overtime in the civil service has become the norm. At the same time, it should be noted that Korean hard work has its own special character. I got the impression that Koreans are a bit masochistic and constantly strive to complicate their lives. The Korean language has a good word “kosen”, which translated means “hardships, difficulties, deprivations”. So, if you live constantly in these “koseni”, then you are great, everyone respects you, they pity you: here, they say, a person works, tries. If you walk around with a happy face, while having a lot of free time, then those around you will start looking at you suspiciously: something is wrong with you. Even if you manage to do everything, it doesn’t matter, there must be that same “kosen” in life. It would probably be more accurate to say that for Koreans the fact of effort itself is more important than the result. I experienced this myself when I studied at a Korean university. It was especially difficult in the first year - the education system was different, the specialty was different, everything was in a foreign language (especially not the easiest one for a Russian person). But often I was given higher grades than I deserved because I really tried. What turned out badly is okay, everything will come with time, the main thing is that you try, the rest will follow. This is exactly what an assistant professor once told me, who was handing out graded papers: “Well done, you tried a lot, isn’t it easy to study everything in Korean? ! But you try, the professor appreciates it.” If we draw an analogy with the Russian grading system, I was given a four with a minus, although, as I later realized, a fair grade would have been a two with a plus. There were, of course, teachers who did not make allowances for my foreign origin. They wholeheartedly gave me trouble, especially in my first year. However, I realized the basic idea of ​​Korean education: the main thing is to try, and the result will come. Well, there probably is a certain meaning in this. Sooner or later, the time for indulgences will pass, and you will have to answer to the fullest extent, and at the first stage, excessive adherence to principles and exactingness can discourage a person from trying in the future. The same system applies to companies. Something doesn’t work out, you failed – it’s okay, you worked honestly. The result in itself is not that important. Let's say you didn't sleep all night, preparing some kind of report or report, but, as it turned out later, your creativity turned out to be complete nonsense. However, if those around you find out that you stayed up all night for this work, they will certainly praise you - you have more than received your share of “koseni”, and with such diligence, sooner or later you will get a report. This is one of the basic Korean principles. Koreans are capable of working painstakingly and patiently for a long time. Even if they do mechanical, tedious work. Many Korean scholars believe that this trait appeared among Koreans thanks to... rice. Traditionally, rice has been and remains the main food product in South Korea, and growing it is very difficult - you must often make monotonous movements, staying for a long time in difficult conditions. Hence patience, diligence, and the ability not to get tired of monotony. Maybe from here... Once I had the opportunity to write a report about South Korean shipbuilding. This is an area in which Koreans are deservedly proud. If anyone doesn’t know, I’ll say that South Korea is the absolute leader in this area - in terms of tonnage and the number of ships launched and under construction, as well as in the number of orders received (data for 2009). Of the ten largest shipbuilding companies in the world, seven are South Korean, and the first three places are again occupied by companies from this country. I wanted to know what the secret of such success was - technology, competent management, and maybe something else... That’s why I asked for the largest shipyard in both Korea and the world, Hyundai Heavy Industries, in the city of Ulsan . Luckily for me, my guide was one of the directors, who at one time worked as a representative of this company in Russia and was well acquainted with our realities. Although he had a wonderful attitude toward our country, he was at the same time perfectly aware of all its shortcomings. He immediately said that Russia and South Korea cannot compete in the construction of large-tonnage ships. And it’s not so much about the climate, missed moments and other objective reasons, but about our national characteristics. “Creating the same tankers and container ships is not that difficult. The main thing is to work out the process, agree on a clear delivery schedule with those who supply the components, and go ahead, riveting giant ships. But such work requires the ability to do the same thing over and over again, and most importantly, with unrelenting discipline. Russians are bad at this, but Koreans have it in their blood. You have another advantage: you can come up with things that we cannot. So you're better off creating unique, expensive small ships or ship units. This requires originality of thinking. The benefits will be no less. Our national trait is the ability to work long, tediously and scrupulously,” he said. Maybe someone will challenge his words, but it seems to me that they have their own truth. The concept of hard work is not so easy to define. If this is the ability to work long hours, then yes, Koreans are undoubtedly hardworking. By the way, all studies on hard work are usually based only on the duration of work. The more you work, the harder you work. A certain simplification, of course, but how else to measure who likes work more and who less? However, hard work and work efficiency are two different things. Any employee of a Korean company will tell you this. According to an unwritten rule, a subordinate cannot leave the workplace until the main boss leaves. The Korean company has an American seating system for employees: everyone sits in one large room, and a personal workplace is separated from the rest of the room by low partitions. The employee has the illusion of isolation from other employees, and management can clearly see who is in place and who is not. That’s why Koreans have to sit patiently and wait for the boss to leave. I had the opportunity to work for some time in a Korean company, and I made certain conclusions, and then other foreigners who also worked in Korean companies shared similar impressions with me. It goes something like this. The working day ends at 18:00. First, the head of the department begins to get ready and leaves his workplace around half past six, then, as soon as he leaves the office, the heads of departments begin to move, going home around seven. So this “wave” gradually spreads down, overwhelming all steps of the career ladder. As a result, ordinary employees leave only at eight or nine in the evening. There is work, there is no work - it doesn’t matter: you want to play with toys on the computer (just not demonstratively), you want to communicate with friends via ICQ, the main thing is to sit still, develop your “ko-sen”. They say that the worst thing is when the boss stays late at work on his own business or simply doesn’t want to go home for one reason or another: then the whole office suffers. Hence, by the way, the statistics on constant overtime and the longest working day. Indeed, employees of Korean companies often stay late at work, but this is not always caused by production needs, which affects real indicators of labor productivity per unit of time. In this indicator - work efficiency - the Koreans do not take first place. There are, of course, companies in Korea where you can do your work and immediately go home, without paying attention to your boss or checking your work schedule. Did the job - free. There are also “advanced” bosses who themselves will tell their subordinates: “Don’t pay attention to me. At 18:00 everyone can be free.” I don’t argue that there are such people. However, more often than not, work in Korean companies is structured according to traditional principles: while the bosses are in place, be so kind as to sit and improve statistical indicators. 3. Golf, room, sul, or How difficult it is to be a businessman - Can you play golf? – I’ve never tried it. – Do you often go to the room salon? - Well, once the senior students drove me, but I left after half an hour - I had to prepare for the exam. - Well, do you even drink alcohol or are you “always driving”? – I can drink a couple of glasses, but then my face turns very red from alcohol, and I quickly fall asleep. – How are you going to communicate with clients? What kind of businessman are you? So this means: there is a golf club not far from our building - so during lunch you can go and sign up. Show me your membership card in the evening. And I take upon myself the “education” regarding alcohol and room salons - this evening the first “lesson”... I had the opportunity to hear such an interesting conversation when a new employee came to the customer service department of a large Korean company and began to get acquainted with his direct boss Yes, the life of a Korean businessman is not easy. In addition to concluding all kinds of contracts, marketing and drawing up reports, you still need to be able to do a lot, including knowing how to quickly find a common language with a partner or potential client. One of the most common and generally accepted ways in South Korea to quickly get closer to a stranger is to drink alcohol together, which is called “sul” in Korean. This side of Korean culture will be written in more detail in another section, so now I will only touch on this topic a little. Korean businessmen, although this also applies to businessmen from many other countries, are among the greatest connoisseurs of alcohol. Often, it is during the next toast “to get to know each other” that contracts are concluded, disputes are settled, and useful business contacts are established. In addition, Korean companies are widely known for their traditions of joint libations - this is one of the ways to make the team more cohesive. A couple of times a week, one or another department goes to a restaurant, and there the employees drink several bottles of soju (Korean vodka), varnishing it all with beer. This is a very common way to help improve relationships between employees, as well as provide an opportunity to communicate with colleagues in an informal setting. Although in recent years young people have begun to think more and more about health, and the tradition of weekly parties is gradually becoming a thing of the past, the life of a Korean businessman is still not complete without “sul”. What can I say, a Korean businessman without a “sul” is something from the realm of science fiction. And what is a tipsy man often drawn to? Of course, to the female gender. So, in South Korea there are special establishments that can satisfy the cravings of tipsy men. No, it’s not what you thought, although there are also “moths” in the Land of Morning Freshness. Tipsy businessmen usually go to so-called room salons. “Room”, as you might guess, comes from the English word room - “room”. Sometimes these salons are briefly called “room” or “business club”. You see, the main contingent of clients is often reflected even in the name. So, you are seated in a room where there are soft, comfortable sofas around the perimeter, and a large table in the center. You order a drink and a snack. As a rule, whiskey and beer are offered in such places. However, you definitely need to order whiskey, even though they will charge you exorbitant prices for it in the “rooms.” And then girls come out to you, from whom you choose the one you like, or the owners simply bring beauties according to the number of clients. The task of these ladies is to pour alcohol for the guests, to maintain a conversation if necessary, if there is an awkward pause in the conversation; if they see that those who came are not bored with each other anyway, or even more so are having business conversations, then they will never get involved in the conversation, but will wait until they are addressed. They may ask the girls to entertain the guests - to sing or dance. There are, of course, room salons where, for an additional fee, they will organize a continuation of the banquet at the nearest motel, but this is not a common practice. On the contrary, in the most expensive and elite room salons, where you can’t just get from the street, intimate services are strictly prohibited. In South Korea, these “business clubs” are essentially places where you can talk candidly about business with an important client. The girls are just an entourage, a beautiful element of the interior, like flowers in a vase, one of the signs that this establishment is visited by respected and wealthy guests. Often, immediately after dinner, a businessman takes his prospective business partners, whom he has just met, to the room salon. And he does this not at all in order to have fun with the girls (although this happens), but rather in order to demonstrate his serious attitude towards the proposed deal and respect for his partners, as well as to drink a glass or two of good alcohol in a pleasant atmosphere. By the way, Russian businessmen often told me that they do not understand the Koreans in this regard. “What is it like to pay that kind of money and not do anything with the girls? – one businessman friend of mine from Khabarovsk was perplexed. “Yes, for that kind of money, yes we have!..” It’s all very simple, Koreans have a fundamentally different approach to room salons than our compatriots might have towards similar establishments: things are done there rather, the terms of the contract are agreed upon, with a potential business they get to know their partners better, finally relax, rather than choosing ladies for a pleasant pastime. Although, of course, as already mentioned, there are such “rooms,” but in the most prestigious and expensive ones, the owners strive, first of all, to create an environment favorable for business and at the same time relaxed communication. Naturally, the “rooms” cannot do without alcohol. And here, Korean businessmen can’t do without “sul”. Another way of business communication that has become widespread in South Korea is playing golf together. You hit the ball once, and then slowly walk together and discuss matters. If earlier in Korea playing golf was considered the prerogative of the upper classes, in recent years this sport has become more and more accessible. At least there are more than enough golf courses in major cities in South Korea. And the cost of a month of training, including instructor lessons, is not that much - about a hundred dollars. Many fitness centers in Seoul have begun to abandon swimming pools in favor of special golf training screens. This is exactly what is in demand now. Although, of course, going to a real field, and with a full set of clubs, requires money, and a lot of it. The high cost of playing on full-size fields is largely explained by the small area of ​​the country: there is not much land in South Korea, and it is very expensive. Golf is now prestigious in South Korea. If you say that you play on the field or at least practice regularly, then you will be thought of as a person of wealth who knows respectable, respected and useful people. In general, playing golf for a respectable businessman is now as necessary an attribute of life as a good watch or suit. The golf courses themselves perform almost the same function as room salons: to take a respected client for a walk and conduct business negotiations in a calm, luxurious atmosphere. If we have already touched upon the sphere of life of Korean businessmen, then we will once again talk about processing. Korean businessmen, even the most successful and rich ones, constantly overwork. You probably already realized that there is hardly a Korean who will insist on observing the work schedule. So “room”, “sul”, golf, and also constant overwork are integral parts of the life of a Korean businessman. By the way, the daily routine in Korean companies and institutions is such that almost everywhere lunch falls between twelve and one in the afternoon. It seems that Koreans are driven by some kind of primal instinct when they all get up and go to lunch at exactly noon. However, South Koreans strictly adhere to the lunch schedule not only at work, but also at home. Noon struck - forward to the table. Christopher Hill, who worked for several years in South Korea as the US Ambassador and, to his credit, it will be said, tried not only to study the history and traditions of this extraordinary country, but also to penetrate the soul of the Korean people, not only to understand, but also to feel the hidden mechanisms , driving Korean society, once admitted: “If you go out on the street at 12.05 - that’s it, consider that you won’t find a place in the restaurant.” This statement is true: even with all the numerous Korean restaurants, the period from 12:00 to 12:40 is the busiest, since employees of almost all companies and institutions go to lunch. But as soon as the time approaches one o'clock in the afternoon, all the restaurants, as if on command, will suddenly become empty, as if ten minutes ago dozens of people had not been crowded here. After having dinner, Koreans move to other establishments that are no less numerous than restaurants - local coffee shops. Coffee in South Korea, by the way, is very good. Koreans love this drink very much, and there are a lot of good, cozy cafes here. Therefore, immediately after lunch, while there is still half an hour of free time left, everyone runs to coffee shops, and queues appear there. Knowing about rush hours, which fall at the same time every day, I always tried to either go for lunch later, or go “in antiphase”: first drink coffee at noon, and then sit in a restaurant. Every time I got the impression that on Friday evening I was going not from Moscow to the dacha, but on the contrary to Moscow: there were few people, there were enough places everywhere. But I wasn’t able to persuade all of my Korean friends to adopt such an “anti-phase” schedule. And although many of them did not like crowds in restaurants, only truly heroic individuals could miss the holy lunch hour.

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website – Koreans love to give gifts. It is not customary for them to visit people empty-handed. True, their custom of giving gifts, in terms of what and how to give, differs from the tradition of gifts existing in Russia. Thanks to the “Korean Wave”, through Korean films and television series, Russians learned about a fashion trend in the South Korean gift industry called “Khopeul” (커플 / Couples).

Gifts in the “COUPLE” style are a special set of original gifts for a couple (lovers or spouses), at the same time sets for “him” and for “her,” completely identical or having a slight thoughtful difference.

Korean society, despite its apparent progressiveness, is extremely conservative in matters of basic values. Strong family ties are one of the Korean virtues. Therefore, demonstrating belonging to a certain “cell of society” is the philosophical justification for the popularity of this phenomenon. However, this assumption is true for married couples; for young Koreans in love who are not yet married, we can assume a different motivation for buying such gifts for girlfriends. “Mark the territory” so that everyone can see that this “most beautiful Korean girl” is busy and the girls don’t seem to mind.

What gifts do Korean men give to their beloved women?

Middle managers in large corporations in South Korea give their wives (and there is no other way, a bachelor will never climb the career ladder) designer jewelry in a paired set (rings, bracelets, watches). Or buy a special set of men's and women's underwear from an elite brand.

Clerks and other “office plankton” buy special pajamas for Christmas or New Year. As well as jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, baseball caps, sneakers and any other Korean clothes or shoes made in the same style. The business of such gifts is widespread in South Korea.

A high school student will give a pair of T-shirts, caps or some inexpensive accessories.

What gift do girls want to receive?

In South Korea, an interesting survey was conducted among high school girls to find out their likes and dislikes in birthday gifts. Business is sensitive to the slightest changes in the statistics of preferences of young Korean women.

A gift that is very want to get Korean girls.

• 21.6% – boyfriend (some want a prince in white, some a promising guy)
• 15.6% – an expensive fashion designer bag
• 15.4% – laptop
• 12.2% – tablet computer
• 9.4% – accessories
• 7.3% – household electrical appliances and electronics
• 5.9% – perfume
• 5.4% – smartphone
• 5.0% – “first kiss” (at school, morals and time are strict, so there are a lot of “unkissed” people)
• 2.2% – flowers

A gift that don't want to get Korean girls.

• 10.7% – perfume
• 9.2% – “first kiss”
• 7.8% – household electrical appliances and electronics
• 6.1% – smartphone
• 5.6% – boyfriend
• 3.7% – accessories
• 3.1% – an expensive fashion designer bag
• 2.9% – tablet computer
• 1.7% – laptop

In general, follow them and understand what the girls are thinking about. Wind in my head.