People in different countries do have their own style of living. And when we live in, work in or even visit their country, it is always interesting (and pays off) to observe their culture and practices and respect it. I have worked in Korea for 3 months last year and here’s what I observed of the non-verbal communication in Korea, particularly in their drinking culture.
Drinking has always been an integral part of life for most Koreans. Drunk as one might get when drinking, certain propriety still have to be observed. I was at my first drinking sessions on a Wednesday night after work. I observed that seniority plays a very big role in those sessions. The senior colleagues never had to pour themselves drinks. Also, when the junior members poured drinks for them, they have to do it with two hands as a sign of respect. Besides, it is also not allowed to pour drinks for yourself as it is believed that if you do so, you are not respecting the person sitting opposite you. Lastly, when you raise your glass and drink your alcohol, you cannot do it directly facing the senior member who toast that drink to you. That is, you have to look away and finish your shot.
Of course, I was the least senior, alright, most junior one in those sessions. I practically have to observe everything. It does get tiring sometimes, afterall, I’m not used to such formality in Singapore even when I drink with the elders in my family. From this, we can see how much importance is placed on status and ranking in the Korean society. Therefore, we should be aware of and respect their way of life in order to prevent unnecessary misunderstanding and conflicts but instead, forge better communication network by truly integrating with them.
