Korea was divided into two distinct sovereign states back in 1945. North Korea is officially called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. South Korea is referred to as the Republic of Korea. Korean happens to be the national language of both North and South Korea.
Modern Korean Script
Modern Korean is written in alphabets called Hangul in South Korea and Chosungul in the North. It is essentially the same script but with different names and is similar to the script invented in the 15th century. Some Korean sentences are written with Chinese characters which are referred to as Hanja, though this form of writing has become rare in modern times.
Doing business in North and South Korea
Business communication in both the North and South of the region is done in English. However, the English people speak and the accent can be a bit hard to understand in the beginning. Though most Koreans have learned English in school and have practiced it extensively over the years. So, it is not unusual to come across Koreans who speak English fluently in the business world.
Korean communication ethics
While in the west we will instantly ask for clarification or to repeat a sentence in Korea this is considered impolite. So, it can be hard to know if or not they have understood what you are saying. However, there are a few things you can do to eliminate instances of miscommunication like:
- Speak slow and patiently.
- Try to phrase your questions to get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ type answer.
- Try to use short and simple words.
Translating your business website can help a great deal
At the end of the day, all Koreans speak and read Korean fluently. So, the best way to remove any language barrier is to make sure that all content on your website, business cards, etc. are in the native language. This is especially true if you are selling products and services in the country.
Have a translator on hand
It would also be easier to conduct business in person in Korea when a translator is working with you. A translator can help you not just translate but also navigate through cultural cues – something that’s very important.
Business in North Korea requires a slightly different approach
North Korea does not have many business prospects in general. It is not a place where a western small business can thrive. Though there are some that choose to do business in this region. However, while doing so specific red tape will have to be sorted out. In North Korea, people are less educated, and English is not widely understood. So, here having a translator on hand can make a big difference. Plus, all legal matters are taken care of in Korean.
The same thing applies to running a website since the internet infrastructure isn’t as good as it is in the South. Plus finding skilled people is also a challenge. That said once you’ve established that it is a market you want to work in its imperative that all communication is done in Korean as there isn’t a way out of it.