Informal Relationships in South Korea Based on Loyalty and Hierarchy

Occupation: Senior Research Fellow, Center for Study of Common Problems of Contemporary East, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Affiliation: Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 4

Pages

38-44

Abstract

All ties are influenced by pragmatic interests (benefits) and normative determinants. It is obvious that an individual accepts informal relationships when they serve his benefit or believes that he will receive some benefits in the future. And, of course, an individual tries to find other informal relationships when the current ones have disappointed him. The author examines informal relations in Korean society based on loyalty, reciprocity, hierarchy and aimed at obtaining resources bypassing formal procedures. Informal relationships based on group loyalty can develop on the basis of ties between relatives, friends, former colleagues or classmates, someone who was born and raised in the same district, village, who is part of the same clan or political group. There is a great influence of informal ties in South Korean business. It helps to enter or get a share of market, can reduce costs or commercial risk. Informal relations not only help to find partners and boost business, but are also a part of the solution to any problem. There are two key parameters of informal relationships: reliability and reciprocity. Lack of reciprocity results in weak tie. Reciprocity with lack of commitment reliability results in weak tie too. Direct client-patron relationships are stronger than ties with other co-members of a group or members of horizontal social networks. Informal group relationships can be defined through various contextual variables: reciprocity, ethical norms, collectivism, hierarchy, obligations to relatives, corruption.

Keywords

South Korea, informal relationships, loyalty, reciprocity, hierarchy, Yongo, Yonjul, Inmaek, Hyulyon, Jiyon, Hakyon

Received

14.06.2023

Publication date

14.06.2023

Number of characters

18605

Cite

GOST	Grafov D. Informal Relationships in South Korea Based on Loyalty and Hierarchy // Asia and Africa Today – 2023. – Issue 4 C. 38-44 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750025372-1-1 (circulation date: 17.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750025372-1
MLA	Grafov, Dmitriy B "Informal Relationships in South Korea Based on Loyalty and Hierarchy." Asia and Africa Today 4 (2023):38-44. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750025372-1
APA	Grafov D. (2023). Informal Relationships in South Korea Based on Loyalty and Hierarchy. Asia and Africa Today (4), pp.38-44 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750025372-1

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 230

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. De Bary W.T., Chaffee J.W. eds. Neo-confucian Education: The Formative Stage. University of California Press. 1989.

2. Sik S. H. A Brief History of Korea: The Spirit of Korean Cultural Roots. Seoul: Ewha Womens University Press. 2005. P. 84.

3. Craig E. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Volume 7. Taylor & Francis. 1998.

4. Yee J. Social Capital in Korea: Relational Capital, Trust, and Transparency. International Journal of Japanese Sociology. 2015. № 24(1), рр. 30–47.

5. Lew S.-C. The Korean Economic Development Path – Confucian Tradition, Affective Network. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2013.

6. Horak S. Antecedents and Characteristics of Informal Relation-Based Networks in Korea: Yongo, Yonjul and Inmaek. Asia Pacific Business Review. 2014. № 20(1), pp. 78–108.

7. Horak S. The informal dimension of human resource management in Korea: Yongo, recruiting practices and career progression. International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2017. № 28(10), pp. 1409–1432.

8. Kim Y.T. Korean Elites: Social Networks and Power. Journal of Contemporary Asia. 2007. № 37(1), pp. 19– 37.

9. Shim T.Y., Kim M.-S. and Martin J. Changing Korea: Understanding Culture and Communication. New York: Peter Lang. 2008.

10. Ho C. and Redfern K.A. Consideration of the role of guanxi in the ethical judgments of Chinese managers. Journal of Business Ethics. 2010. № 96(2), pp. 207–221.

11. Fan Y. Guanxi’s consequences: Ppersonal gains at social cost. Journal of Business Ethics. 2002. № 38(4), pp. 371–380.

12. Lee J. Society in a vortex? Yonjul network and civil society in Korea. Korea Journal. 2000. № 40(1), pp. 366–391.

13. Kim Y.-H. Emergence of the network society: trends, new challenges, and an implication for network capitalism. Korea Journal. 2000. № 40(3), pp. 161–184.

14. Morden T., & Bowles D. Management in South Korea: A Review. Management Decision. 1998. 36, 5, pp. 316–330.

15. Li P.P. Social tie, social capital, and social behavior: toward an integrative model of informal exchange. Asia Pacific Journal of Management. 2007. № 24(2), pp. 227–246.

16. Fiske A.P. The four elementary forms of sociality: Framework for a unified theory of social relations. Psychological Review. 1992, № 99(4), pp. 689–723.

17. Fiske A.P. 2012. Meta relational models: Configurations of social relations. European Journal of Social Psychology. № 42 (1), pp. 2–18. (In Russ.)

18. Manske F. & Moon Y. Cultural signature of interorganisational information systems? The development of EDI systems in Korean automotive industry. AI & Society. 2003. № 17(1), pp. 45–61.

19. Horak S., & Klein A. Persistence of informal social networks in East Asia: Evidence from South Korea. Asia Pacific Journal of Management. 2016. № 33(3), pp. 673–694.

20. Chen Y., Friedman R., Yu E., Fang W., & Lu X. Supervisor-subordinate guanxi: Developing a three dimensional model and scale. Management and Organization Review. 2009. № 5, pp. 375–399.

21. Yang M.M. Gifts, Favors, and Banquets: The Art of Social Relationships in China. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. 1994.

22. Park S. H., & Luo Y. Guanxi and organizational dynamics: Organizational networking in Chinese firms. Strategic Management Journal. 2001. № 22(5), pp. 455–477.

23. Peng M. W., Wang D. Y. L., & Jiang Y. An institution-based view of international business strategy: A focus on emerging economies. Journal of International Business Studies. 2008. № 39(5), pp. 920–936.

24. WJP Rule of Law Index®. https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/ (accessed 19.01.2022)

25. Agrast M., Botero J., Martinez J., Ponce A., & Pratt C. World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2012–2013. Washington, D.C.: The World Justice Project. 2013. P. 33.

26. World values survey 1981-2020, WVS Wave 7 (2017–2020). https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSDocumentation WV7.jsp (accessed 09.01.2022)

27. Chung-un C., S. Koreans’ social trust level low: study. Korea Herald. 2014. http://www.koreaherald.com/view. php?ud=20141123000274 (accessed 09.01.2022)

28. Edelman Trust Barometer 2020. https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2020-01/2020%20Edelman% 20Trust%20Barometer%20Executive%20Summary_Single%20Spread%20without%20Crops.pdf (accessed 11.01. 2022)

29. Hofstede G. Asian Management in the 21st Century. Asia Pacific Journal of Management. 2007. № 24, 4, pp. 411–420.

30. Podoba Z.S., Titova A.M. 2018. Chaebols as the basis of export-oriented economy of the Republic of Korea. Asia and Africa today. № 3. Pp. 33–40. (In Russ.)