Although South Korea and Vietnam are geographically distant, the two countries have been engaging in active exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including economy and culture. With the growing number of Vietnamese students and workers in South Korea, understanding the social and cultural structures, particularly hierarchical relationships (상하관계, 上下關係), is becoming increasingly important. This understanding can help Vietnamese people living in South Korea or working with Koreans in Vietnam to adapt more easily, thereby improving their work and life experiences.

Korean society is deeply influenced by Confucian ideology, making hierarchical relationships very clear and distinct. These relationships are based on respect and power between individuals or groups and are reflected in many aspects of daily life, from work to family and other social interactions. Factors such as age, rank, and education play significant roles and greatly affect the daily lives, work, and studies of Koreans. Hierarchical relationships can include superior and subordinate (상사와 부하), senior and junior (선배와 후배), teacher and student (선생님과 학생), parent and child (부모와 자식), elder and younger (어른과 어린이), and even within the military (군대). This article focuses on the hierarchical relationship in the workplace between superiors and subordinates.

In Korean workplaces, the relationship between superiors and subordinates is expressed through language and behavior. Subordinates often use respectful language (높임말) when talking to superiors and follow strict behavioral rules. For example, subordinates must stand up and bow when superiors enter the room, or listen without interrupting when superiors are speaking.

Terms of address in Korean also reflect this relationship. Respectful terms like “nim” (님) are added after the names of superiors or older individuals to show respect. Additionally, strict rules about honorifics are applied. On the other hand, superiors can call subordinates by their names without adding respectful terms.

These elements extend beyond the workplace to other aspects of social life, including schools, families, and personal relationships. This creates an orderly society where each individual has a clear position and is expected to act accordingly. While this system helps maintain order and respect, it can also create pressure and tension, especially for those in lower positions. As a result, Korean society is gradually embracing values of equality and individual freedom.

Vietnamese society, influenced by Confucian culture and being part of East Asian culture, also values factors like age, rank, rules, and etiquette. However, hierarchical relationships in Vietnam are not as clear-cut and rigid as in Korea. Vietnamese people are used to a more flexible working environment where relationships between different levels are not overly rigid. Vietnamese workplace culture often emphasizes cooperation and friendliness among colleagues, regardless of job position. Therefore, when faced with Korea's strict hierarchical system, Vietnamese people may feel pressured and uncomfortable. Adapting to this culture can be challenging.

One major challenge is using the proper terms of address and behavior. In Korea, using respectful terms when talking to superiors is mandatory and very important. Meanwhile, Vietnamese people may not be familiar with strictly adhering to these rules, leading to inadvertent mistakes and misunderstandings. For example, in Vietnamese, an employee might call an older superior “chú" (uncle - father's younger brother, 삼촌/작은 아버지) or "cô" (aunt - father's younger sister, 작은 고모) if they have a close relationship. This term creates a sense of closeness and friendliness. When the superior is only a few years older, the employee might call them “anh" (older brother, 형/오빠) or "chị" (older sister, 누나/언니) to show respect while maintaining closeness. When the superior is much older, the employee might call them "bác" (uncle - father's older brother, 큰 아버지) or "bác" (aunt - father's older sister, 큰 고모) to show respect but still keep it friendly. This shows a significant difference in terms of address between Vietnamese and Koreans, who typically call superiors by their titles.

Furthermore, Vietnamese people may find it difficult to follow the complex behavioral rules and etiquette in Korean workplaces, such as bowing when greeting or not opposing the superior's opinion. This can lead to feelings of being imposed upon and lacking freedom in their work.

Additionally, differences in time perception and working methods are also obstacles. Koreans often work very hard and tend to stay late at the company, working overtime to complete tasks. While Vietnamese people are also diligent, they may not be used to continuous overtime work, leading to fatigue and stress.

In conclusion, adapting to the hierarchical culture of Koreans in the workplace is a significant challenge for Vietnamese people. Differences in behavioral rules, terms of address, and work concepts all contribute to this difficulty. However, by gradually learning and adapting, Vietnamese people can overcome these challenges and better integrate into the Korean working environment. Despite the differences, Vietnam and Korea can still build mutually respectful relationships based on shared understanding and empathy.

Nguyen Thi Thu Van, PhD

- Bachelor's degree in Korean Studies, Master's and PhD in Anthropology

- Currently a professor at the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, specializing in korean studies, translation and interpretation.

- Member of the Vietnam Writers Association and the Hanoi Writers Association

- She has a particular interest in Korean literature and poetry. She is a renowned translator of many beloved Korean literary works that are warmly received and loved by readers in Vietnam.

- Despite her active work as a translator of Korean literature, she is also a prominent researcher in various fields, including family and gender, social policy, and Psychology.

- She has presented high-value academic research on family and gender, Anthropology, Korean studies, and translation studies in several academic journals such as the Vietnam Journal of Anthropology, Journal of Family and Gender Studies, Northeast Asia Journal, Psychology Journal, and at international conferences in Vietnam, Korea, Australia, France, and other countries.

/응웬티투번 (Nguyen Thi Thu Van) 박사
 하노이국립외국어대학교 한국어∙문화학부 교수, 한국문학 번역작가

*편집인 박상준 주: 응웬티투번 박사는 한국의 상하 관계를 베트남인의 관점에서 이해하기 쉽게 풀이해주고 있다. 이와 같은 전 이해를 통하여 한국인과 베트남인의 직장 내 협업을 돕고, 상호 간에 업무 효율성과 생활 속에서 소통능력을 향상시킬 목적으로 위 기사를 작성하였다.