How would you qualify and describe different aspects of your target culture? Reflect on your own experiences and expectations of the culture in question. How does your culture reflect various qualitative Hofstede dimensions of culture explored in class, e.g. body language, how people talk about time, etc. Also have you ever experienced culture shock? If so, describe.
In watching Korean variety shows and particularly Korean dramas, I have noticed that age is central to Korean hierarchical structures. While watching these shows (with a grain of salt, because they may exaggerate or distort aspects of real life in Korea) and during my studies of Korean language and culture, I came to find out that South Korea has a particular structure in which age can be seen as a determining factor when deciding how someone should be addressed. This is clearly evident in language: when addressing someone who is older than oneself, one uses formal speech (존덋말) whereas informal/casual speech (반말) is typically used with friends or when the older one of the two desires to drop honorifics. Additionally, I have noticed that there may be blurred lines where experience (or time in an industry) may place a younger person at a socially higher place in business hierarchical structures, despite age dynamics. Furthermore, the use of proper language (dependent on who speaks and who listens) is important as it projects varying levels of respect through language that if done incorrectly, may provoke misunderstandings and/or conflict. Moreover, before studying Korean culture, I thought that South Korea would have a collectivist society, particularly because throughout much of my education experience while growing up, teachers would use East Asia as an example of a region with collectivist societies while Western societies were largely characterized as individualistic.
According to Hofstede Insights (https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/south-korea,the-usa/), South Korean society is accepting of hierarchies without questioning its basis. This may explain why particular body language is used to show respect to elders (bowing to elders, bowing when meeting new people, or bowing during particular holidays). Furthermore, Hofstede Insightsclaims that South Koreans keep busy and work diligently, particularly because society places a great emphasis on effectiveness and punctuality with respect to perception of time. Moreover, the website claims that South Korean society places an emphasis on long-term investments, whether it be in economic security or in social investments for future generations. Hofstede Insightsclaims that South Korea favors collectivist mentalities in which the actions of one also falls onto the responsibility of others of the in-group: as such, equality and resolution through diplomacy are preferential. The website also claims that behavior that does not adhere to the norm is viewed unfavorably and may be characterized as unconventional; as such, some may feel constrained by social factors from participating in self-gratifying activities.
While Hofstede Insights provides an overview of South Korean society, I have taken the information it has provided cautiously as my own experience with Korean society (in the future, after greater exposure) may develop a different outlook of the culture than what the website has presented. Furthermore, as of now and as a result from my distant proximity to my target culture, I have not yet experienced culture shock. I say this while reflecting on the moments in my life in which I have experienced culture shock, whether it was while trying to understand grocery shopping customs in Paris during my study abroad experience or while I tried managing daily life in the Ecuadorian Amazon during a summer of internship there. During both my French- and Amazonian-related culture shocks, I was placed directly in the center of the cultures that I had read about in textbooks or of which I heard and read about through new outlets. I was forced to adapt quickly to each respective culture, learning quickly the ins and outs of what quotidian life meant for the locals: these are topics that can only be described in writing but cannot be fully understood without complete exposure and immersion. For this very reason, I have yet to experience culture shock during my Korean studies: I have not been to South Korea nor have I had the opportunity for total immersion into the culture. While I may obtain a glimpse into Korean culture by visiting Korean restaurants (as discussed in my learning plan), such experiences may, to some degree, differ from an experience I would have if I were to visit and order food at a restaurant in South Korea. Regardless, one day I hope to visit South Korea: I would take that opportunity to immerse myself in the culture and language as much as possible to turn it all into an unforgettable learning experience.
Comments