Group items tagged

Lee made the offer in an interview with the Washington Post last week during a visit to the United States for talks with President Bush, saying the countries need a better channel of communication.

Relations between the divided Koreas have chilled since Lee took office in February with a pledge to get tough on Pyongyang. Lee says he opposes unconditional assistance to the North and calls for its nuclear disarmament as a precondition for economic cooperation.

North Korea has bristled at the hard-line stance, and since late last month has expelled South Korean officials from a shared industrial complex, test-fired missiles, and threatened to reduce the South to "ashes." The Korean War ended in 1953 with a truce, not a peace treaty, which means the two sides technically remain at war. Relations improved significantly under Lee's two liberal predecessors -- Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun -- who pursued detente with North Korea with massive aid and concessions

 Bring fruit or good quality chocolates or flowers if invited to a Korean's home.

The number 4 is considered unlucky, so gifts should not be given in multiples of 4.

Wrap gifts in red or yellow paper, since these are royal colours. Alternatively, use yellow or pink paper since they denote happiness.

Do not wrap gifts in green, white, or black paper.

Gift Giving Etiquette

Remove your shoes before entering the house.

Send a thank you note the following day after being invited to dinner.

Chopsticks should be returned to the table after every few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.

Do not pick up food with your hands. Fruit should be speared with a toothpick.

Try a little bit of everything. It is acceptable to ask what something is.

Dress Etiquette

Under no circumstances insult or to criticize in front of others.

This is a culture where "less is more" when communicating. Respond to questions directly and concisely.

Appointments are required and should be made 3 to 4 weeks in advance.

It is a good idea to send both an agenda and back-up material including information about your company and client testimonials prior to the meeting.

Have all written materials available in both English and Korean.

 Have one side of your business card translated into Korean.

The poverty and distress of the South Koreans were deepened by the Korean War of 1950-53

Korea, like other countries in the temperate, has four distinct seasons.  Spring begins in late March, with occasional drizzle.  Summer is hot and humid with monsoon rains beginning in June and heaviest in July.  Autumn is rather short, lasting from the end of September to November.  Winter is cold and dry from December to February.  Spells of cold weather normally alternate with days of warmer weather.

The U.S. ambassador to Seoul said Wednesday that Korea's decision to resume U.S. beef imports will strengthen their bilateral alliance and that he was confident Seoul's free trade pact with Washington will get ratified in the U.S. within this year.

The U.S. envoy noted opposition in the U.S. Congress in the presidential election year but said he was "confident" that it will get ratified within U.S. President George W. Bush's term.

Nonetheless, President Bush explained to President Lee in Camp David less than two weeks ago that it is a priority for him to get Congress to ratify KORUS-FTA in 2008 and I'm confident he can meet that goal

We often refer to FTA as a 'win-win' agreement because both Korea and the United States will benefit, but it might be more appropriate to call it a 'win-win-win-win' because not

only the countries benefit but because businesses and consumers will benefit as well," he said.