We, often, have clients that proclaim that they can’t understand the way that Koreans do things. They complain about an inability to reason, keep promises, express opinions and give a straight answer.
Koreans have plenty of complaints about Westerners also. Koreans, often, complain that Westerners concentrate too much on details and not enough on the big picture, care about money more than friendship and focus too much on efficiency. The root of these issues is vastly different cultural realities.
![]() |
Korean Business the Gangnam-Style Way |
The Lewis Cultural Model does an excellent job of explaining these differences. The Lewis Cultural Model breaks cultures into three distinct categories: Linear-Active; Multi-Active; and Reactive.
Linear-Active Cultures
Linear-Active cultures base decisions and actions on logic. Individuals in these cultures tend to be efficient, schedule oriented, and base decisions on a plan and reason. These individuals are often criticized for focusing too much on the task at hand and not enough on building relationships and the big picture.
Germany is the epitome of a Linear-Active culture. The United States tends to be Linear-Active with some Multi-Active characteristics, since, among other things, Americans tend to consider more of the necessity in building relationships with business partners. Of course, these are all generalizations and excpetions exist in every culture.
Multi-Active Cultures
Multi-Active cultures tend to prioritize decision making based on feelings. They often don’t concentrate on one task at a time and switch from task to task based on feelings of urgency and joy in doing a specific task at a specific time.
Multi-Active cultures tend to strive in situations where building of relationships are important. Multi-Active cultures tend to annoy Linear-Active individuals when the Linear-Active individuals are pressed with a deadline or efficiency is necessary for success. The epitome of a Multi-Active Culture is Italy.
Reactive Cultures
Reactive cultures tend to prioritize decision making based on building group harmony. They consider logic less important than relationships. They often respond to issues that arise, but, rarely, plan for an issue to arise, much to the annoyance of Linear-Active cultures and most of our clients.
The epitome of a Reactive culture is Japan. Korea is a Reactive culture with characteristics of a Multi-Active Culture, since Koreans, often, tend to care more about individual relationships and tend to express emotions after a relationship is built more than Reactive cultures.
Linear-active | Multi-active | Reactive | |
Focus | Results | Relationship | Harmony |
Talks | Half | Most | Little |
Tasks | Sequential | Parallel | Responsive |
Plans | Stepwise | Outline | Principles |
Politeness | Mostly | Sometimes | Always |
Challenge | Logical | Emotional | Indirect |
Emotion | Ignored | Expressed | Suppressed |
Communication | Written | Verbal | Face-to-face |
Body language | Restrained | Open | Subtle |
The preceding chart was adopted from: The Lewis Culture Model
I will be following up on this issue more in the next couple of weeks. The issue has a profound impact on succeeding in business in Korea.
Similar Posts:
- Korean Business Culture vs. Western Business Culture Explained by IPG Attorneys
- Top 10 Rules for Doing Business in Korea: Korean Business Ethics Basics
- Expanding your business into Asia? Use Korea as a Test Bed
- Forming a Joint Venture in Korea, China & Southeast Asia: Listen to My Mother
- Mastering Business in Korea: A Practical Guide by IPG’s Commercial Advisor
- What are the Administrative Hurdles for Foreign Entrepreneurs to Start a Business in Korea?
- Alternative Legal Fee Arrangements at Korean-based Law Firms: Limited Scope Representation Explained
- Is Korea’s “Copy Culture” the Largest Threat to the U.S.? On Fox Business
- IPG Legal’s Korean Commercial Law Practice
- Korea emerges as an Arbitration Hub in East Asia