Mark AdamsBusiness etiquette in north Korea is different from that of South Korea. It is also very different from the etiquette of most western countries. While this is often is not the case, in general, it is best if you are prepared to refrain from eating rice at any meal in north Korea. Rice is a staple of the north Korean diet and most meals will feature it extensively. Eating rice with any meal will usually signal that you are trying to get away with eating less than you had been served. It is not proper for a North Korean to “trick” his country’s host in this manner, so nobody will openly eat rice with a meal for a foreign guest.
As a foreigner, you should be aware that North Korean business etiquette is very similar to the Japanese form of etiquette. This is particularly true when it comes to the preparation of a North Korean meal. When in north Korea, it is supremely important that you prepare for your meals by going to the bathroom. North Koreans will generally dislike if you are not ready to eat after the meal is served. North Koreans do not generally adhere to the western violation of eating before the meal is served, so they will be concerned if you want to go to the bathroom before the last preparation for the meal is made. Going to the bathroom during or after the meal is not a proper way to begin or end a meal.
In general, unlike the etiquette in South Korea, North Korean business etiquette is still similar to the Chinese form of etiquette, although there tend to be more European influences. In north Korea, it is good etiquette to eat the majority of what you are served. To eat less than you are served, especially in a formal setting, is considered to be rude. North Koreans will also avoid asking questions about the meal served, if they are anything less than completely confident about what is being served.
It is important that you allow your hosts to eat the food before you enjoy the meal. In some cases, it is also considered socially acceptable for your hosts to eat all of the food on your plate before you may have dessert. It is not proper for you to eat until you are satisfied before you allow your host to eat. If you must use the washroom while you are eating, you should excuse yourself and return to the table as soon as possible. You should not be at the table for any longer than necessary, as this will embarrass your hosts.
It is usually considered polite to eat all of the food on your plate, although this does not apply if the food is rotten or spoiled. If the food on your plate is in any way “questionable”, it is not a good idea to eat it.
Overall, the most important thing to remember about north Korean business etiquette is that the needs of your host should supersede all of your individual needs.
Greetings in North Korea
In North Korea, women may greet one another differently than in western countries. If you have traveled with a female companion, you may have noticed that most men address your companion with a head bow and generally do not look her in the eye, or make eye contact at all. Even if they know her very well, male North Koreans will always treat her as a subordinate.
The head bow is common throughout East Asia with the only difference being where they place their hands. If your companion wears heels, a male North Korean will lower his head to the level of her heels. If she is wearing flats, he should lower his head to the level of her toes. In most cases, the person or people who are being bowed to will acknowledge the bow, although on several occasions my companion has had to ask them to acknowledge the bow.
If you are traveling with a female companion, you should pay attention to the fact that in North Korea, women are allowed to enter places where male foreigners are not. For example, in north Korea it is acceptable for a single woman to enter anywhere that a group of couples are allowed to enter. Groups of couples are not allowed to enter any place where single women are not allowed to enter.
North Korean Laws
North Korea practices the same basic form of moral/criminal laws as South Korea. Some of the laws that are of particular interest to business people traveling to North Korea include:
The Criminal Code
If you are carrying $3,000, the maximum or more in cash that a foreign national is allowed to carry in North Korea. This is a crime. If you are caught with more than this amount, you will be required to pay a fine. There are also many other financial crimes, especially in relation to foreign currency.
The laws regarding financial crimes may be somewhat more flexible for foreigners than they are for North Korean citizens. If you are a foreigner, it is important that you understand exactly what North Korea’s financial laws mean. It is also important that you adhere to them.
The Law Of Theft And Aspects Of Criminal Procedure
North Korea is a country with some very specific and unique laws regarding the public peace. If you happen to be in possession of a weapon without a license, you will be required to pay a fine. It is also a crime to be in possession of a weapon in any public place. This means that if you are carrying a weapon in north Korea, you may not be allowed to carry it in public places.
North Korea has an interesting law that is also rather relevant to people engaged in business and international transactions. North Korea maintains a law specifically that requires business people to conduct their money transactions within the course of the business day. This means that any agreements that are made after the business day may be considered invalid. This law is only relevant to business transactions that are made after the business day.
If you or your travel companions do not want to return to North Korea, you will be subject to questioning and deprivation of freedom. North Korea’s public peace laws may be very strict for people who are not native to north Korea. If you do not agree to return to your home country, or if you do not have a passport of the country in which you are claiming citizenship, you will be subject to questioning.
Once you are of legal age, North Korea may consider you to be a returning citizen, unless they have substantial evidence to show that you have lived elsewhere for over 10 years. This affects your rights under North Korean law. If you fail to return to your home country at the conclusion of your studies or to return to your place of residence after vacation, you will be subject to questioning.
North Korea also has an interesting set of rules that regulate the departure of Koreans who are not citizens. If you do not have an ID card, and you do not have a legal exit permit, you will not be allowed to depart North Korea.
The Law Of Sexual Harassment
The laws in North Korea may seem strange compared to the laws that you find in your home country. If a North Korean citizen touches the foot of a foreigner who is not wearing shoes, this may be considered sexual harassment. This law means that your footwear may be the defining factor in North Korean court free. It is also a crime to use the internet for excessively long periods of time, or to not use the internet at all. North Korea’s internet control laws are somewhat stricter than South Korea’s internet control laws.
The Law Of Official Secrets
North Korea’s law of official secrets is somewhat open-ended. If you possess information that you are not supposed to possess, it may be considered an offense. This applies to information about your business, or about any other subject matter. If you are not the preparer of the information in question, or you did not receive the information from a legally licensed agency or institution, you may be liable for prosecution.
The Law Of Family
The law of family in North Korea is not the same as the law of family in South Korea. In North Korea, the word family includes blood relations, and legal relations, but not a romantic relationship. This means that the persons who are included in your family, are going to be defined in a different way. It is important that you understand exactly what blood and legal relations include before you are required to make decisions under this particular law.
The Law Of Marriage
North Korea expressly discriminates against persons who are not citizens. This is important. If you are not a citizen of North Korea, you will not be eligible for the same rights, nor will you be subject to the same obligations as a native North Korean citizen.
North Korea’s law on marriage is primarily based on the civil procedure. This means that if you and your partner are not both North Korean citizens, you may not be able to get married in North Korea, or you may only be eligible if one of you is a North Korean citizen.
The Law Of Families
North Korean laws are very strict in relation to criminal violations. They are also very strict regarding invasion of privacy. If you are caught listening to secret police conversations, you may be required to pay a fine. If you do not pay the fine, you may be required to serve time in prison.
If you are a foreigner, North Korean law does not require you to be married to your partner.
Signing Contracts In North Korea And South Korea
In South Korea and North Korea, you are required to sign a contract when you hire an employee or when you make a deal on a commercial subject. The government in South Korea and North Korea insists on a written contract because they want to be sure that all of the rights and obligations are specified.
The contract that you sign must state exactly the rights of all involved parties before any agreement is binding and enforceable in court. This means that if the law requires something or not, then you must include this in the contract. Because North Korea is so secretive about its laws, it is important that you consult with an attorney or a professional contract officer before you go to North Korea.
In North Korea, you will find that the laws regarding commercial transactions and employment are much more strict. Both South Korea and North Korea will require that you follow certain laws regarding employee and consumer rights. South Korea and North Korea both maintain strict laws regarding working conditions, hours of work, compensation, hiring and more. North Korea has stringent laws against discrimination and harassment.
How To Find An Attorney In South Korea
If you need to look for an attorney in South Korea or in North Korea, you will need to spend a little time in order to locate an attorney who specializes in the particular legal area that you need, whether it is family law, criminal law, immigration law or a law covering commercial transactions.
You will find that the internet has a lot of information about legal professionals in South Korea and in North Korea. If you need to find an attorney who specializes in the laws of business, commercial law, banking law, tax law or infringement, you will find that the internet has a lot of information about attorneys in South Korea and North Korea. You can also look for an attorney in South Korea and in North Korea by asking your friends and colleagues.
North Korea’s Government Official Websites Are A Great Resource
