Communication Differences: Koreans and American Cultures

Globalization due to internet use, international markets, and outsourcing has increased contact between people from different cultures. This contact highlights the divergence of perspectives between members of different cultures such as Korea and the United States. For example, in the American workplace,Caucasian colleagues often mistake Asians' reserved manner for a lack of assertiveness. It is inevitable that differences in cultural perspectives will be channeled through communication; and if this communication is to be productive, interactions based on cultural knowledge and mutual respect will be needed to encourage Korean and American relations to progress.The South Korean economy has been the fastest growing economy in the world. Korea is also an important economic partner for America. However, Noland and Pack point out that South Koreans perceive American prominence in the merchandise trade to be eroding, especially in comparison with China. Although there are other emerging areas of services and investment, in which the US role is growing, the United States could improve its relations with South Korea to help build an increasingly prominent position in the newer, more rapidly expanding areas of business it is trying to pursue.

To help achieve this aim, the purpose of this study is to test and report on Korean and American communication practices. This update is partly necessary because the most recent extant studies on Korean communication were carried out in the 1990's. Given the increased exposure of Korea to the world, this study carried out an updated test of present day communication practices in Korea as compared to the US. To do this, cross-cultural theories will be used to underlie further analyses of hypothesized communication traits across Korea and the US.