Things to Know When Doing Business with Koreans

If you’ve ever met Korean guests, you might notice that every Korean person has a Chinese name. But is this done on purpose to make it easier for them to visit China? Actually, no. In fact, Koreans have traditionally used Chinese names for centuries. This isn’t just about coming to China—it’s part of their cultural and historical background. Koreans learn Chinese from an early age, and many become quite fluent, even using idioms and expressions with ease. Many Korean words and place names are derived from Chinese, often with similar pronunciations, almost like a dialect of Chinese. However, the modern Korean writing system, which uses a phonetic alphabet, was only introduced in the last 50 years. This shift to a pinyin-like system led to confusion because many names sounded the same. To avoid ambiguity, keeping traditional Chinese names became a practical way to distinguish people. For over a thousand years, both South and North Korea used Chinese characters. They were deeply influenced by Chinese culture, and many aspects of their language and writing were modeled after it. However, not all Koreans knew how to read or write Chinese characters. Only the aristocracy and officials had access to this knowledge, while common people relied on spoken language. As a result, much of the cultural and agricultural knowledge wasn't passed down effectively. In 1446, during the Ming Dynasty in China, King Sejong of Joseon (North Korea at the time) recognized the need for a native script that could be used by all Koreans. He wanted to create a writing system that was simple and accessible to everyone. Inspired by music and the scripts of northern nomads, he developed the Korean alphabet—Hangul. Sejong worked with scholars and studied Chinese characters extensively before creating a system that was easy to learn. His goal was to improve literacy and empower the common people. The original Hangul had 28 letters, but over time it evolved into the 24-letter system used today. Compared to the English alphabet, it's simpler and more efficient, even praised by Western linguists. In the preface to his announcement, Sejong wrote: “I created these 28 letters based on the needs of our people.” He believed that language was more than just sound—it was connected to nature, music, and the universe. The structure of Hangul reflected this philosophy, with consonants, vowels, and syllables arranged in a way that mirrored natural harmony. At the time, Korean was considered a "second-class" language, used mainly by the lower classes, while Chinese characters remained the official script of the elite. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that Hangul gained widespread use, nearly 450 years after its creation. King Sejong’s legacy goes beyond just the alphabet. He was a wise ruler who promoted science, education, and cultural development. His vision helped shape Korea’s identity and laid the foundation for its modern language and society. Today, Hangul is a symbol of Korean pride and independence, reflecting a rich history of innovation and resilience.