Both alcohol and prostitution are enormous industries in Korea. These two industries are ingrained in the culture of South Koreans. In fact, many of the business talks involve drinking and prostitution. As seen in episode eight of Misaeng, Sales Team Three were in charge to attain a contract with a business client. In this episode, the business talk took place in an entertainment facility where alcohol was heavily used. Also, the main conflict for the protagonists is that the client expects “second round” services after the drinking finishes. Similarly, in episode nine, Sales Team Three also discusses their work in a restaurant where they are drinking alcohol. From this, viewers can understand that alcohol and prostitution are very crucial to work and business. In this essay, I will analyze the business culture of Korea in terms of their alcohol consumption and the use of prostitution such that these two activities are central to doing business.
A quick summary of episode eight is that Sales Team Three are met with a client that expects “second round” services when doing business. Because of this, Sales Team Three tried very hard to get their contract signed during the “first round,” which is consuming alcohol. They want to finish in the “first round” because of Manager Oh’s ethics regarding using prostitution in business. The ninth episode talks about the arrival of Mr. Park, where he is an employee that does not fit well with Sales Team Three. This leads to a scene where Sales Team Three went to drink and discusses the problems of Mr.Park.
Prostitution in Korea is something that is illegal and yet, is one of the biggest working industry. As seen in the documentary, “Save My Seoul,” prostitution is ingrained in their culture. It is seen as if it is a rite of passage or something casual to do with coworkers after work. It is also a part of the hosting culture in terms of business relationship. (Lee, 2017) One sex industry consultant has spoken that “the business model [Korea] depends on… [is by] hang[ing] out at [prostitutes and hostess clubs.” (Cain, 2014) To attempt to explain this culture, I will argue that prostitution in the business aspect is a reflection of the historical kisaengs and their relationship with the upper class.
“Gisaeng[s] appeared to have originated in the early Goryeo Kingdom… [and] their main identities were as government servants. Their ‘official duties’ [are to] providing entertainment for government officials and their guests.” (Hwang, 2015) This role is very similar to the current hosting culture in Korea, where clients are expected to have the “second round” when being hosted for business. The client represents the guests while the hosts are the government officials. The same culture can be seen in the Joseon dynasty as yangbans often frequent the kisaengs. The reason is that “kisaengs offered romance and flirtation which men could not have with their restrained, Confucian wives.” (Maynes, 2012, 7) This can also be applied to contemporary Korea, where men look for a chance to be satisfied with something new that their significant other may not agree to. In Misaeng, CEO Moon reflects both of these points. He is a man that expects to be hosted with prostitution and his reasoning can be seen that he has a powerful wife behind him. The act of prostitution of CEO Moon can be understood as an escape and excitement from his dominant wife, as the wife is actually the one making all of the business decisions. Hence, the hosting culture in today’s Korea reflects on the traditional role that officials and kisaengs played.
Consumption of alcohol is also vital when doing business. “The question ‘How much alcohol can you handle?’ is often part of a job interview in Korea.” (Cakar and Kim, 2015, 290) This is already a big indication on the importance of alcohol during work. In fact, many of the job applicants are tested in their alcohol tolerance and are asked to entertain during their interview. (Ibid) There are several reasons why alcohol is so important in doing business. First, “[Korea] has a drinking culture that is rooted in ‘one shot’”. (Ibid) This means that when someone is to pour a person a drink, that person must finish the drink at once. Not doing so is a sign of disrespect to the other person. Also, drinking is a way of socializing among colleagues and clients in which case “if an employee cannot drink or does not enjoy drinking, they he may end up [being excluded].” (Ibid, 294) This drinking culture is also widely approved by the corporations of Korea since much of the networking expenses “are paid from the organization’s finances.” (Ibid, 296) This shows that generally, companies accept the fact that alcohol has a place in doing business and connecting with coworkers. In terms of entertaining others, it is a skill that must be well used. Since the final goal of drinking and entertaining with clients is to sign a contract, the role of satisfying the client must be met. Doing so will yield a higher chance of completing a contract between the host and the client.
In conclusion, the role alcohol and prostitution are substantial in the work forest. Prostitution is a part of the hosting culture that has been pass down through generations. This business model cannot be changed easily. Alcohol also represents a social relationship between people. When people drink, they bond and socialize. This drinking culture is critical for trust in business relationship to be achieved. Similarly, the consumption of alcohol is high because of the drinking etiquette. When a person does not “one shot” their alcohol, it is seen as a disrespectful action. Just like the scenes in Misaeng, viewers can see the importance of prostitution and alcohol in the business world.
Bibliography
Cain, Geoffrey. “In South Korea, real business gets done in brothels and karaoke joints.” PRI (2014).
Cakar, Ulas and Haeeun Kim. “Korea’s Drinking Culture: When an Organizational Socialization Tool Threatens Workplace Well-being.” Turkish Journal of Business Ethics 8, no. 2 (2015): 289-309.
Hwang, Kyung Moon. “Life and role of gisaeng courtesans.” Korea Times (2015).
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/02/633_173034.html.
Kim, Won-seok, dir. Misaeng. Number 3 Pictures, 2014.
Lee, Jason Y, dir. Save My Seoul. Jubilee Production, 2017.
http://www1.ondramanice.io/save-my-seoul/watch-save-my-seoul-episode-1-online.
Maynes, Katrina. “Korean Perception of Chastity, Gender Roles, and Libido; From Kisaengs to the Twenty First Century.” Grand Valley Journal of History 1, no. 1 (2012): 1-19.
Questions:
Why do you think that prostitution and alcohol cannot be removed in the business culture?
What suggestions do you think can protect the workers from excessive drinking in order to obtain a client? How can they be implemented?
Hey Martin,
Nice job on your essay. I appreciated your view on why prostitution and alcohol are so prominent in Korean business culture. I especially liked your comparison of today’s prostitution with the traditional Kisaeng.
Here are my answers to your questions:
#1 Question
As you mentioned in your essay, drinking and prostitution have been around in Korea for a long time. Drinking is so ingrained in the culture that it has developed a very complex set of rules of etiquette. And prostitution has become so common that Koreans are fairly nonchalant about engaging in it. Due to it being such a common practice it seems that it would be impossible to eliminate it from the culture. However, I believe it could be regulated more and perhaps one day become less prominent in Korean culture. However, because many Korean people and companies promote alcohol and prostitution as normal ways of performing business deals it would be unlikely to ever be able to permanently get rid of it.
#2 Question
To protect workers from excessive drinking all companies in Korea need to get together and promote business without alcohol. Korean can start by getting rid of practices like testing possible future employees level of alcohol tolerance. Also companies could promote and protect employees who choose not to drink or drink in access with incentives or at the very least not exclude.
Hey Martin,
I really enjoyed reading your post about the drinking culture and prostitution as a norm in Korea. I find that drinking in order to socialize and establish a bondage between your colleagues is not needed, but it is unfortunately a must that people have to indulge themselves with lots of alcohol. I believe alcohol cannot be removed in the business culture is because it would take a sense fo revolution to do so. Alcohol is one of the primary sources that keeps the economy in Korea booming. It is a hard “addicition” that comes with a difficult work life. Alcohol is a way of forgetting the stress and burdens of everyday worklife. In terms of prostitution, it is also one of the sectors that helps Korea’s economy. I believe that because it is very hard for workers to find a soulmate as there is very little time for them with work and responsibilities. Therefore, they turn to prostitution as an easy way out, or perhaps to relieve their sexual desires. It is arguable that without prostitution, crime rates would go up, and that wouldn’t reflect well on a company whose worker was accused of such an act. One easy way to protect workers from excessive drinking in order to obtain a client, especially in the drama, is to notify the restaurant of their business strategy so that the alcohol they drink from their own has less alcohol content. That way, the client can drink as much as he’d like and Geu-rae, Mr. Oh, and Dong-shik can focus on their task at hand. Of course, it will not always work since the client may pour out alcohol for them from his bottle, but it is better than being too drunk.
Why do you think that prostitution and alcohol cannot be removed in the business culture?
As prostitution and alcohol is a part of office culture for such a long time, it would be really difficult to remove it entirely. However, I do believe that it’s possible to encourage people to think that those 2 are not necessary for business meetings.
What suggestions do you think can protect the workers from excessive drinking in order to obtain a client? How can they be implemented?
To guide the workers away from drinking, implementing a new culture would be great. For example, instead of drinking playing golf together while discussing things about business would be better. However, such solution has its own problems as inviting someone to golf and paying for the fee is considered as bribery in Korea. Promoting business meetings without such extra stuff including drinking, golfing and so on would be great.
Hey Martin, I enjoyed reading your essay. Drinking becomes a social culture since a long time ago in Asia. I think media and advertisement are needed for the revolution. People’s old concepts need to be broke and discarded since excessive alcohol will cause personal damage and prostitution is bad for social morality. These two things are not necessities and I believe the situation will be changed if many people against it. Prostitution and alcohol are not impossible to remove in the business culture. It is hard now because our society outlook is not moral but economic. Politics should no longer simply an economic problem but a moral issue as well. People’s opinion will change over time eventually.
Hey Martin,
I appreciate your insight on drinking culture and the sex/prostitution industry in South Korean culture, and how it is largely influential in business culture.
To answer your questions:
1) As others have mentioned in their post along with your discussion, drinking culture and prostitution have been around for a long time. To entirely strip them out of culture, would take drastic measures and change people’s perceptions and behaviourisms around these norms, that are so heavily attached to the culture itself. I would agree with Jordan that it is unfortunate that these industries all try to escape one’s burdens with life’s struggles and obstacles that is not entirely healthy for the individual and others involved.
2) It would be fair to say that having more regulation and possibly building more awareness about these issues (i.e. reshaping sex ed programs in high schools to educate students the dangers of engaging in such activities, etc.), and having some sort of support network at home or at work to understand the pressures (e.g. being open and understanding, and not being afraid to share the burdens of work life by showing empathy also showing empathy, etc.) may help this becoming less prominent. As Michelle and Seungki/Anthony mentioned, doing business without alcohol use by getting rid of bad practices to test an employee’s alcohol intake/tolerance, as well as not try to single someone out who chooses not to drink. As well, finding other alternatives in place of alcohol that are more healthier
Hi Martin,
Great essay!
To answer your questions, alcohol in Korea is so normalized in Korea, as you can see Korean men (mostly) and women often going out and drinking after work in large groups, so it is a fun way to connect with your coworkers and boss outside of the workplace, and also to make a good impression upon superiors as well. Drinking soju is very common among Koreans as soju is not as strong as hard liquor and comes in many flavours, its easier to drink than other liquors with your friends. In K-dramas, whenever the lead gets upset over romance troubles or life issues, you can see them drinking soju to relieve their pain and stress. I do not think encouraging drinking so much is good for workers, new laws should be made to prevent bosses from getting their employees drunk to the point of passing out as it could be an HR nightmare as things can go very wrong. Sexual assault, health issues, ethics, etc. Prostitution on the other hand, I did not realize was such a large issue in Korea. I think that being under constant stress in the workplace, combined with alcohol can lead to people making decisions to use prostitutes and cheat and use alcohol as an excuse.Hearing that porn is banned in Korea, I can see it can be difficult to relieve sexual urges. I believe Korea should make porn legal in Korea, and be more strict on prostitution laws, and begin legalizing it in a safe and organized way.
Your bibliography looks good, except Hwang, Kyung Moon. “Life and role of gisaeng courtesans.” Korea Times (2015). –> I’d put the publishing date–February 4, 2015.
I’ll come back again for feedback on your essay.