Posts Tagged ‘Korean culture expert witness’

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Collaboration

Thursday, February 28th, 2013
Collaboration

By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor

I’m often asked, “Don we know you work with most of the top Korean
groups, their overseas teams and leadership, but what exactly do
you do?”

One aspect of my work is providing leadership with a cross-
cultural success strategy. Another dimension is conducting training
sessions and workshops when serious issues surface that disrupt
global operations.

In addition, I also work with non-Korean executives of
global companies doing business in Korea, or with businesses
partnered with Korean firms.

But, essentially I teach “collaboration.” This is my message. That
said, implementing and facilitating “collaboration” is not a quick and easy
task. Expertise is required to discover core issues that impede
operations, along with implementing a long lasting action plan and
sound countermeasures.

BTW I’m always looking for new and engaging client projects. If
you have something in mind just email me, or call and we can
discuss.

1-310-866-3777

 

Collaboration

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WSJ: Southerton Advises Non-Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
WSJ: Southerton Advises Non Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices

By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org Editor

The Wall Street Journal Korea Real Time blog and journalist Evan Ramstad did a wonderful job sharing insights into our newly released book Korea Facing: Secrets for Success with Korean Global Business. For the full article and interview, go to:
http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/01/14/southerton-advises-non-koreans-in-overseas-korean-offices/

Southerton Advises Non-Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices

January 14, 2013, 6:50 PM KST

By Evan Ramstad

As we’ve noted in the past, the canon of English-language books that explain South Korea’s contemporary life and culture for people doing business here is quite small.

But there’s a niche that’s even smaller: advice books for non-Koreans who work for Korean companies in other countries.

Don Southerton, a U.S. business consultant, has written several publications centering on the Korean auto industry, new urbanism, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. His firm, Bridging Culture Worldwide, provides strategy, consulting and training to businesses that are working in South Korea.

Just a few weeks ago, he published his latest, an e-book and paperback called “Korea Facing: Secrets for Success in Korean Global Business.” With it, he has flipped the tables to look at the challenges that non-Koreans face working in the overseas offices and subsidiaries of Korean firms. The book is available in e-book form for Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Apple’s iPad devices.

For the full Korea Real Time article and interview, go to:
http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/01/14/southerton-advises-non-koreans-in-overseas-korean-offices/

 

WSJ: Southerton Advises Non Koreans in Overseas Korean Offices

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Korea Facing: Approvals

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012
Korea Facing: Approvals

By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal Editor

In this week’s Korea Facing update we look at approvals, and the challenges.
BTW why not subscribe to Korea Facing.
http://forms.aweber.com/form/88/1499178088.htm

In the Korea Facing article on Decision Making, we pointed out that in most cases leadership made key decisions and teams implemented. Getting these approvals in itself can be a challenge, time consuming, and should take into account such subtleties as senior management’s mood.

At times, teams can wait days for an approval. This can be because senior Korean management is out of the office and traveling. But, it can also be that Korean teams try to be sensitive to their boss’ mood, well-being, and workload, along with an awareness of pressing issues impacting the company and their division.

In other words, if senior management is dealing with a major challenge, or looks stressed, team leaders may delay requesting a meeting that day. In contrast, if their senior management looks to be in a good mood, timing might be better to get an approval. Again timing is everything and good timing–being sensitive–is the sign of a savvy team leader.

An Example
In once instance when I was in Korea I witnessed teams (there was a line) waiting all day to meet with an overseas business Vice President to get approvals for a wide range of projects. One specifically involving a merger of services in the world’s largest and most competitive car market. The delay: the VP was on the phone with his back turned to the door making arrangements for his daughter’s wedding…a personal matter, but one which the teams and subordinates would not infringe.

Take away…
In a word, be patient when waiting for an approval. Recognize that to be effective Korean teams often need to wait and time their meetings with seniors for an approval. Be sensitive and do not unduly press Korean teams. If the issue is time sensitive, (which many usually are), communicate this, and seek clarity on the status. In many cases, pro-actively sharing with your clients, suppliers, and service providers the Korea facing approval process can greatly reduces stress on your side.

Questions? Comments? Challenges? Let me know by email.

Just email dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com

Korea Facing: Approvals

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About Bridging Culture Worldwide

Thursday, March 29th, 2012
About Bridging Culture Worldwide

Did you know KoreaLegal.org is sponsored by Bridging Culture Worldwide?

About Bridging Culture Worldwide 

Since its founding, Bridging Culture Worldwide has focused on global and Korea-related business services. Based on over 3 decades of experience, they share cross-cultural insights to global teams and management. Bridging Culture Worldwide core services include: Consulting, Strategy, and Research; Publications; along with Project Development, IP, and Trademark.  Visit http://www.bridgingculture.comOur Clients

Bridging Culture clients include: Golfsmith International (America’s leading golf retailer), GOLFZON ( Korea’s screen golf leader), the SPC Group (Korea’s largest Food group), Gale International (developer for Songdo IBD—a $40bb Korean smart city), Smashburger (2011 Forbes top business pick), Phizzle.com (mobile sports marketing), Initiative Media Worldwide (part of Interpublic Group and oversee $800 mm Hyundai Kia media buying), Prudential Financial (relocation services), Hyundai Motor Company Korea (#4 car maker), Kia Motors America, Innocean Worldwide (media arm of the Hyundai Motor Group), MOBIS Korea (auto parts), to name but a few.

2011-2012 projects include Golf, Auto, manufacturing, global construction, Green energy, retail, and service sectors in the US, Canada, Korea, and Middle East. 

Don Southerton, CEO and President

Don Southerton is an advisor, consultant, marketing strategist, researcher, and coach for many of the top Korean-based corporations with global business, along with major western firms that have ventures in Korea and Asia Pacific.

Professional expertise includes Korean culture and norms, Korean market entry strategy, Korean education, linguistics, and workplace, along with most of Korea’s major conglomerates including Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, including Hyundai, Kia, and Hyundai Engineering and Construction, SK, Lotte, POSCO E&C, Hanjin, Hyosung, and LG.

Market sectors supported include both traditional and new emerging Korea 2.0® enterprises including retail, fashion, food service, finance, manufacturing, service, education, design, and R&D.

 

Education

B. A. History. University of Colorado, Denver.

M. A. History. University of Colorado, Denver.

 

Post Graduate Study

University of Southern California (USC).

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Intercultural Institute of California, San Francisco (IIC).

University of California, San Diego, Graduate School of International Relations (UCSD)

 

Southerton also engages in ongoing research into market entry, cross cultural communication, sustainability, and the dynamics of U.S.-Asian commerce. A key resource for this on-going research is an alliance with the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego and its Korean Pacific Program.  Southerton serves as an area specialist for the university.

 

Southerton and his work has also received media recognition both in the U.S and Korea. In addition, Southerton frequently speaks to Korean and international groups and organizations on Korean business, workplace culture, emerging Korean markets, and entrepreneurship. Moreover, he posts daily observations on trends impacting Korean and Asian business, corporate development, and culture at: http://bridgingculturekorea.blogspot.com   and via Everything Korean Vodcasts http://www.youtube.com/user/ds19192  He is also editor for Korea Legal.org http://www.korealegal.org. Recently, Southerton is one of the founders of Korea Business Central, the premier Korea business website.

 

 

Articles on Bridging Culture Worldwide and Don Southerton

November 2004 Korea Times (Los Angeles edition).

December 2004 Chief Executive (Korean edition).

April 2004 Atlanta Korea Times

September 2005 Bloomberg Markets

February 2006 Ann Arbor News

July 2006 Computer World Magazine

July 2009 Joong Ahn Ilbo, LA

August 2009 Joong Ahn Ilbo, San Diego

September 2009 San Diego Korea American Magazine

January 2010 Jacksonville Business Journal

August 2010 Korea Times, Seoul, South Korea

October 2010 Korea Times, Seoul, South Korea

November 2011 Forbes

December 2011 Forbes

January 2012 InDaegu Magazine

February 2012 Yonhap

February 2012 Korea Times

Pending articles for KOTRA, CNBC and BBC

 

 

Articles and Papers

“Effective Communication with Koreans.” White Paper, Nov. 2003.

“Addressing Needs of Host and Parent Employees.” White Paper, Sept. 2004.

“Henry Collbran and the Roots of Entrepreneurial Enterprises in Korea.” Presented at WCASS Fall 2004, Seattle, WA.

“Korean Managerial Style.” White Paper, Feb. 2005.

“Kia Motors America: A Cross-cultural Success Model” Spring 2010

“Initiative Media Worldwide: A Cross-cultural Success” Summer 2011

 

Book Publications

The Filleys: 350 Years of American Entrepreneurial Spirit, (IUniverse Press, 2005)

 

Intrepid Americans: Bold Koreans–Early Korean Trade, Concessions, and Entrepreneurship, (IUniverse Press, 2005)

 

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: A Historic Novel, Book 1

(IUniverse Press, 2006)

 

Coffee, Cars, and Corporations: Thoughts on Korean Business and Popular Culture, eBook 1 (Bridging Culture Publications, 2007)

 

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: Gold and Rail, Book 2

(IUniverse Press, 2007)

 

The Sioux in South Dakota History: A Twentieth Century Reader, “James R. Walker’s Campaign Against Tuberculosis on the Pine Ridge Reservation.” Contributing author (South Dakota Historical Society Press, 2007)

 

More Thoughts on Korean Business and Popular Culture. eBook 2

(Bridging Culture Worldwide Publications, 2008)

 

A Yankee in the Land of the Morning Calm: The Northern Frontier, Book 3,

(Bridging Culture Worldwide Publications, 2009)

 

Chemulpo to Songdo IBD: Korea’s International Gateway, (Bridging Culture Worldwide Publications, 2009)

 

Several works in progress— 2012 tentative release dates

 

 

 

Contact Information

Bridging Culture Worldwide

SoCal, Denver, and Seoul

Corporate Office

730 South Vance #3106

Lakewood, CO 80226

1-310-866-3777

Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com

http://www.bridgingculture.com

 

About Bridging Culture Worldwide

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International Law Firms Plan South Korea Launch

Sunday, March 27th, 2011
International Law Firms Plan South Korea Launch

By Don Southerton, KoreaLegal.org

A few weeks ago a lawyer from a top Washington, DC law firm contacted me about the KORUS FTA and the opening of Korea to global legal firms.  I  feel many international law firms are looking at the Korean market.  It will be smart for them to get lots of local support, and more important develop a sound strategy for market entry. I can help.

Here as recent PR announcing law firm Clifford Chance’s plans of entering the Korean market.

Clifford Chance (CC) looks set to become the first leading City firm to open an office in South Korea, with the firm planning to launch after the country’s legal market is opened up to foreign law firms this summer.

The firm is one of a number of the UK top 10 looking at the region in the wake of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Europe and South Korea that was approved by the European Parliament last month (17 February).

The long-awaited agreement, initially signed at the EU-South Korea summit in Brussels in October last year, sets out a timescale for foreign law firms to open in the market, with international firms to be able to open representative offices from July, once the agreement is ratified.

CC confirmed that it is planning to open in the country, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, once the market is liberalised, with other firms including DLA Piper and Allen & Overy (A&O) in earlier stages of evaluating the market.

CC Asia head Peter Charlton (pictured) said: “We have ambitious plans for growth in Asia and Korea is an important part of that strategy. We welcome the recent legal liberalisation and are working towards having a suitable presence in the country at the first available opportunity.”

Under the terms of the FTA and legislation set out by the South Korean Government, liberalisation is set to happen over three stages.

From July, EU-based law firms will be able to open representative offices in South Korea to advise on non-Korean law. By July 2013 firms will have the right to enter into co-operative agreements with Korean firms and advise on legal issues involving a mixture of domestic and foreign law. By July 2016, EU firms will be able to invest in local firms and hire Korean lawyers.

A&O Asia managing partner Thomas Brown said: “Korea is a very important market in Asia and we are looking at it very seriously, but we haven’t made a decision either way as yet.

“We already have a very healthy South Korea practice and any presence on the ground would help us build on what we already do – especially as we won’t be able to practise local law. So our focus would remain on the international law elements of deals involving South Korea.”

Other firms exploring the market include DLA Piper, where Asia managing director Alastair Da Costa said: “We are very interested in the market, having a thriving Korea practice with lawyers in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London and the US. Korea fits as a geography with our strategic framework and we are keen to explore what we can do to strengthen our position in that market.”

Firms ruling out entering the market in the near-term include Ashurst, Eversheds, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Freshfields Asia managing partner Robert Ashworth said: “There are increasing signs of cross-border activity and a renewed confidence of Korean corporates to pursue overseas projects work and acquisitions. The long-awaited liberalisation of the legal market will facilitate this process and I would not be surprised to see law firms from the EU taking advantage of the FTA to open offices. We are continuing to develop our successful offshore Korean practice but I do not anticipate our having a formal presence in Korea in the near term.”

The US signed an FTA with South Korea in June 2007 that so far has yet to be ratified by either government, with several US firms looking at the region in anticipation of the FTA’s ratification.

Source: LINK

International Law Firms Plan South Korea Launch

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KORUS FTA Update

Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
KORUS FTA Update

By Don Southerton, Editor KoreaLegal.org

Following the latest news on KORUS FTA, it looks like treaty might be presented to the U.S. Senate by July 2011.

That said, what specifcally still needs to occur?…

The President may form and negotiate a treaty, but the treaty must be advised and consented to by a 2/3 vote in the Senate. Only after the Senate approves the treaty can the President ratify it.

KORUS FTA Update

U.S. Eyes Korea Trade Deal Approval by July–Kirk

WASHINGTON, Jan 13 – President Barack Obama’s administration hopes to win congressional approval of a free trade agreement with South Korea before July, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Thursday.

“Everything we’re doing in terms of finalizing the text with Korea, working with committees is with that July 1 goal in mind,” Kirk said during a discussion on the pact hosted by Third Way, a Washington-based policy group.

The July 1 date is key because that’s when a rival trade agreement between South Korea and the European Union takes force, Kirk told the group.

The administration also supports approval of two other free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama, but it would “be a huge mistake to try to force all of the trade agreements into one lump vote with Korea,” Kirk said.

Each agreement has its own challenges and should be considered separately, he said.

Kirk indicated Obama would talk about his plans for the three trade agreements in his annual State of the Union speech on January 25.

South Korean Ambassador Han Duk-soo urged the administration to send the deal to Congress “as soon as possible” so U.S. farmers and businesses will not be put at a competitive disadvantage when the EU pact took force.

The pact with South Korea is the biggest of three trade agreements negotiated by the administration of former President George W. Bush but which have stalled in Congress because of strong opposition from Democrats.

Late last year, the Obama administration renegotiated the auto provisions of the agreement to win the support of the United Auto Workers labor union and Ford Motor Co <F.N>, which previously had opposed the pact.

Those changes mean winning approval of the pact will no longer be as “horribly difficult” as it once was, but it will still face stiff opposition in Congress, Kirk said.

“We believe we can get it done,” Kirk said.

Republicans want votes this year on all three pending agreements, but many Democrats are still resisting action on the pact with Colombia because of concern about a history of anti-union violence in that country.

That has clouded prospects for the Panama agreement, since it is considered unlikely Obama would submit that agreement to Congress without also sending the Colombian pact.

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimated in 2007 that the Korean agreement would boost U.S. exports by about $10 billion to $11 billion annually, while increasing imports from that country by about $6.5 billion to $7.0 billion.

A wide swath of U.S. farm, manufacturing and service industry groups support the agreement. But the AFL-CIO, the country’s main labor organization, remains opposed to it.

Both Han and Kirk touted the economic benefits of the pact, which they said would support jobs in both countries.

The United States will gain more in the short-term from market-opening commitments since it already has lower tariffs than South Korea, Han said.

But Seoul sees the pact as key to its long-term prosperity because it locks the country into a comprehensive package of economic reforms, Han said.

Approval would also send the region an important geopolitical signal that the United States intends to remain engaged, Ha

KORUS FTA Update

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New Korean Lawyers Seek Employment in Tough Market

Saturday, January 15th, 2011
New Korean Lawyers Seek Employment in Tough Market

By Don Southerton, Korea Legal.org Editor

Seems like Korea shares a trend that we’ve seen in the U.S., an over-supply of new lawyers. On another level, across Korea recent college graduates also have high unemployment rates, too.

Half of New Lawyers Still Out of Work

Lawy has always been regarded as one of the most prestigious occupations in Korea but the legal market has already turned into a red ocean and nearly half of new attorneys remain unemployed.

Of the 970 people who completed a two-year mandatory training program Wednesday at the Judicial Research and Training Institute after passing the bar exam, 343 have yet to be employed, with 189 to join the military to serve out their conscription.

The portion of the graduates with no job takes up 44.1 percent, a sharp increase from 36 percent in 2008.

The majority of the jobless would prefer governmental positions: 124 opted for the prosecution while 82 are judge hopefuls.

Of those hired, 150 headed to large law firms, with 29 starting their career as juniors for independent solicitors, 30 working for public corporations and 18 at private companies. Twenty-six opened private practices of their own.

New Korean Lawyers Seek Employment in Tough Market
New legal professionals attend a graduation ceremony at the Judicial Research and Training Institute in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. (Park Hae-mook/Korea Herald)


“I haven’t received offers from at firms I wanted,” said a 29-year-old lawyer-trainee who asked to be identified only by his family name, Seo. He decided to join the military to stall for time. “I know several others who haven’t been confirmed with employment yet and they are quite anxious, too.”

Industry insiders say the worldwide financial downturn drove more aspiring lawyers to vie for public positions guaranteeing job stability. Also, the economic hardship made many law firms stingy in hiring junior lawyers, they said.

“Conventionally, most graduates were recruited no later than June. But last year, the unemployment issue lingered till September. This year, it may take longer than that,” a spokesman for the training center was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency. “Next year, things will be much more complicated because law school graduates will be joining the market, fueling the competition,” he added.

However, some predict that more job will open in the meantime to “bulk up” brains for competing against foreign firms once the legal services market opens due to recently agreed-upon free trade agreements.

“Once the market opens and foreign firms, including aggressive American firms rush in, the only way to survive from the extreme competition is to size up and professionalize in specific areas,” the Donga Ilbo newspaper quoted an insider of Kim & Chang, the nation’s largest firm, as saying.

“The training center is also focusing on teaching rather novel and practical fields such as international trade law or American and U.K. laws. We hope it would broaden the trainees’ choices,” Lee Jeong-min, professor at the center, told the Chosun Ilbo.

New Korean Lawyers Seek Employment in Tough Market

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Korean Lawsuit Over Murder of Queen Min

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Korean Lawsuit Over Murder of Queen Min

This article caught my attention.  I wear many hats–consultant, author, coach, expert witness, strategist– but at the core I’m a cultural historian focused on Korea.  This new lawsuit centers on the death of Empress Myeongseong, also known as Queen Min. As Korea was beginning to open to the West, she was brutally murdered by a group of Japanese assassins on Oct. 8, 1895. (More details here).

(AP) — SEOUL, July 16 (Kyodo)-A South Korean civic group said Friday it plans to file a lawsuit against the Japanese government over the 1895 murder of Queen Min, the wife of the King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), by Japanese assassins, according to Yonhap News Agency.

At a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy, the group issued a statement saying it will demand, through the lawsuit, that the Japanese government reveal the truth about the murder case, and the Japanese emperor make an apology.

“Japan has not made an official apology or repented on the barbarian act of murdering Empress Myeongseong, which happened 115 years ago,” according to the statement from the group of South Korean victims from the Pacific war.

“Japan has not made an official apology or repentance 100 years after it obliterated the Korean people for 35 years through the 1910 Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty,” the statement said.

The lawsuit will be filed if the Japanese government does not accept their demands that the Japanese government issue a special statement on Aug. 15, offering the emperor’s apology and mentioning whether it will release related documents on the murder case.

A group of people to handle the lawsuit will leave for Japan on Aug. 5 and hold rallies to demand the Japanese government accept their demands.

Academics in South Korea and abroad have raised the possibility that the murder of the Korean empress could be a state crime on grounds Japanese diplomats played a major role in the case, Yonhap said.
Korean Lawsuit Over Murder of Queen Min

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New Korean Lawyers Victims of Economy

Friday, January 15th, 2010
New Korean Lawyers Victims of Economy

By Don Southerton, Korea Legal Editor

This surprised me, but on second thought it reflects the economy. Korea corporations over the past decade have greatly expanded their legal departments, but with the recession major Korean firms see  R&D, Sales, and Marketing as driving growth–other department like Legal and General Affairs faring poorly.

Korea Times notes:

45% of Trainee Lawyers Unemployed
Nearly five out of 10 new lawyers remain unemployed, the Judicial Research and Training Institute (JRTI) said Wednesday, proving that Korea’s legal service market is indeed frozen.

Being awarded a lawyer’s license in Korea was once believed to be a surefire way to be rich and ascend societal ranks, but the belief has been shattered in recent years by the saturated domestic legal services market.

A total of 978 trainees will graduate from the institute late this month, it said, and 44.4 percent of them, or 351, have not been hired by any company here. The other 627 trainees are set to become judges, or prosecutors or lawyers belonging to law firms or companies, it said.

The ratio is higher than the two previous years of 44.1 percent in 2008 and 35.9 percent in 2007, according to the state organization that provides training for the bar exam.

“Major law firms here have significantly cut their recruiting volume this year amid the gloomy outlook,” a JRTI spokesman said. “Previously, most of those who left the institute unemployed earned a full-time job at a law firm or a private or public company within six months of graduation. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely this year.”

A senior judge expected that those ranked below the top 400 in scores would find it hard to secure a high-paying job.
New Korean Lawyers Victims of Economy

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Korea Legal 2010

Saturday, January 9th, 2010
Korea Legal 2010

By Don Southerton, Korea Legal Editor

It’s a new year. In 2010, we’ll be asking top experts to contibute to this Blog. Look for timely posting on a number of Korea-related legal and business issues.

I’ve also renamed the site to reflect it’s evolving scope.

Interested in contributing?

Please contact me at dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com

Korea Legal 2010

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