Update!
It seems that the Gusts of Popular Feeling did some digging and found several other articles by the good Dr. Underwood.
- Korean Culture: In and Out
- No Men Are Created Equal
- Ch’emyon or Social Face in Korean Society by Susan Oak
- Heredity and Environment
Tip of the hat to Expat Jane for linking to the rest of them!
Original article:
While slogging through the comments at The Metropolitician’s posts on his recent run-in with the Korean police and a belligerent drunk man, I came across a link to a short commentary by Dr. Horace H. Underwood over at McKinney Consulting from commenter/blogger Suddenly Susan. This very good word of advice on how the priority for the value of loyalty or honesty guide Korean and Western cultures is worth the few minutes to read. Here’s an excerpt:
If there are events in your experience with Koreans in which their behavior seems to be in conflict with your values, then it’s time to remember the fundamental and obvious principle that the Koreans are playing by their own quite functional set of values. They are probably wondering why your values are so screwed up. As for me, rather than blaming Korean culture or trying to change it (a fruitless task!), I usually try to set up some system, which forces things to be done “right,” i.e. the way I want.
Dr. Underwood is the fourth generation of a family to live in Korea, and his great-grandfather founded Yonsei University (yes, one of the top 3 universities in the country by most standards). He has since retired to the United States, but his intimate and long history with both cultures is something to be respected and learned from.
First, head over and read the article. When I read it, I found myself saying, “It’s so simple, but it makes so much sense.” How did you react? Does it seem painfully obvious to you now, and are there any situations that seem different or better-understood in retrospect?
