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For Immediate Release
Denver, Mar 20, 2013 — Author Don Southerton announces the release of his latest historical novel set in the early years of the twentieth century in what is now North Korea. The work is titled A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier, Book Three 1900–1907. The book weaves key historic events of the era with a fictional account of Yankee trader Josh Gillet.
Southerton notes, “Linking fact and fiction, A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: the Northern Frontier follows Connecticut Yankee Josh Gillet’s adventures in Korea during the early 1900s when American concessionaires and influence were making huge new inroads in Korea. ”
In addition the author points out, “American missionaries and traders formed a core cadre among the foreigners who ventured to what the West called the Hermit Kingdom. The Korean monarch Kojong, looking to thwart ever-growing Japanese imperialism, pursued a strategy of granting trade concessions, including lucrative mining rights, to westerners. By the early 1900s, the Northern Frontier mines were among the richest in Asia. It is here the main character Josh settles and becomes a productive member of the mining community. Meanwhile, growing tensions between Russia and Japan move the region and Korea ever closer to war.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will appeal to those interested in better understanding Korea and the role westerners played in the opening of the region to the commerce and modernization.
About the Author
Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. He has authored numerous publications with topics centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton is often called upon by the media (the BBC World Service, Bloomberg TV, Korea Times, Yonhap, Wall Street Journal, tbs eFM and Forbes) to comment on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm Bridging Culture Worldwide provides strategy, consulting and training to Korea-based global business.
This is the author’s third historical novel. The Northern Frontier is the final installment of the A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm trilogy. The series blends fact with ample amounts of imagination.
A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier will be available through iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and Google.
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By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor
Thought you may appreciate links to my recent Korea media interviews. Essentially, I encourage collaboration and offer thoughts on what is the best way to approach Korean facing business–in Korea and globally. BTW Each interview looks at the topic from a different perspective.
1. Last week’s tbs eFm Seoul radio interview is now available in mp3 format.
Here’s the link. Just download and listen.
http://sites.google.com/site/ds19192/mp3/0108_Don_Southerton.mp3
2. WSJ Korea Real Time
Southerton Advises Non-Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices
Wall Street Journal
This was also re-posted on Marmot’s Hole, the leading Korean blog for expats.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2013/01/18/advice-for-non-koreans-working-for-korean-companies-overseas/
3. Busan Hap
http://www.busanhaps.com/article/korea-facing-interview-korea-global-consultant-don-southerton
Hope this is helpful…. more media to come…
My thanks go to the eFM Morning Show team, WSJ’s Evan Ramstad, Marmot’s Robert Koehler, and Busan Haps’ Jeff Liebsch…
DS
By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor
Like most Asian countries, South Korea has two different New Years—one that follows the solar calendar and one that uses the lunar calendar. Traditionally the lunar New Year’s, called So-nal, has greater cultural and familial significance (In 2013 it will be celebrated on February 9-11). Both are legal holidays.
As for the solar New Year’s celebration, in 1896, as part of reforms instituted to Westernize and modernize Korea, the Gregorian calendar was adopted, along with some of the West’s holidays such as the January 1st New Year’s celebration.
Today I find Korea’s celebration of New Years similar to celebration in America. For example. Koreans make New Year’s resolutions where they promise to exercise regularly or eat fewer sweet things—such as chocolates and candy.
A popular resolution every year is to study harder to improve English language skills—a skill seen as much required and needed in the global workplace.
It’s appropriate to wish your Korean colleagues a seasonal greeting prior to the holiday, just as you will wish your non-Korean friends “Happy New Year’s.”
The New Year’s greeting is “Sae hae bok mani ba deu say yo.” It is a great phrase to learn because it will also be used again at the lunar New Years celebration in February.
By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor
Christmas has become a popular holiday in South Korea.
Nevertheless, Christmas is seen as a distinctly Christian holiday.
That said, as the holidays approach, western teams may wish to
greet Korean colleagues with:
Sae hae bok man i ba deu say yo! (Seasons Greetings)
Hint: Break the greeting into: sae hae bok-mahne-bah deu say yo
Sae hae bok man i ba deu say yo! works well both in person, in a
card, or an email. In fact, it is a common seasonal greeting into
the New Year.
“The first Christmas in Korea.”
A number of years ago while researching early Westerners in Korea,
I came upon an account of the first “official” Christmas tree in
Korea. I thought I’d share the story…
Since the mid 1880s, Anglo merchants, diplomats, and missionaries
who lived and worked in Korea celebrated their respective national
and religious holidays. Most often these were small affairs as
there were few foreigners dwelling in Korea-most Anglos were
concentrated in the port towns and Seoul. Naturally some Koreans
were curious of these strange western ceremonies and started asking
questions, especially about Christmas.
The Korean royal family was no exception. In December 1893, King
Kojong and his wife Queen Min became very curious about the holiday
and started to inquire about its significance. In fact, Queen Min
summoned her closest western friend and personal physician,
missionary Lillias Underwood to explain about Christmas. That year
on Christmas day, Queen Min sent the Underwood family gifts of
expensive cloth and silk screens.
Encouraged by the queen’s gesture and aware of the royal family’s
curiosity, Lillias asked to set up a Christmas tree in the
palace-even though it was several days after Christmas.
Accounts tell of Lillias putting a great deal of effort into
trimming the tree. When finished Lillias was somewhat disappointed
with the results, as “their majesties were too impatient to wait
till dark to view it.” With no heavy drapes to block the lights
from the windows, the full effect of the Christmas tree was “quite
spoiled.” Lillias cited “the poor little candles flickered in a
sickly way in the glaring daylight.” Nevertheless in spite of her
concerns, Lillias did introduce the holiday tradition to the Korean
court.
On behalf of myself and Bridging Culture Worldwide have a happy
holiday season!
Sae hae bok man i ba deu say yo!
Questions? Feel free to contact dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
1-310-866-3777
Don
By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor
With the year end, Korean Groups have begun their annual end of
year reporting and restructuring. As in the past, Samsung Group has
already announced high level promotions across their organization,
we’ll see what happens at Hyundai Motor Group and the other Groups.
I monitor and track this daily.
In the days leading up to Holidays, team level promotions will
begin to be announced. The norm has been for the re-assignments and
promotions to take affect January 2.
I’d expect some change both at senior Korean global leadership level and
across the Korean overseas teams. Those receiving promotions should
be congratulated–promotions bring considerable status along with a
boost in wages.
Meanwhile, the Korean presidential election is week away. How will a new
president view the Korean chaebols is a topic of discussion–the
previous administration was pro-business.
Finally, 1st draft edits and revisions on the Korea Facing book are
completed. I expect 1-2 more draft revisions before the book goes
“to press”–actually since it’s an eBook, I’ll upload. Plans call
for the book to be available in iBook, Kindle, and Google Book
formats. Look for a Holiday release date.
As always, if you have questions and comments, please feel free to
contact me. Likewise, I’m open to new opportunities, so keep
me in mind.
By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor
Korea Times notes…
Korea Facing 2013
Monday, January 28th, 2013By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor
As we begin a new year, I’d like to share thoughts on Korean facing global business for 2013.
Questions?
BTW We are always interested in new opportunities, so keep us in mind….
Contact: Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com
DS
Tags: Don Southerton, Don Southerton Korea consultant, Don Southerton Korea consulting, Korea consultant, Korea market entry
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