During the Joseon Dynasty, defying the ruling yangban class often meant death.
This rigid hierarchy continues to shape modern Korean society, where authority is demonstrated through intimidation rather than mutual respect.
The contrast with Japanese social norms reveals a fundamental difference in mentality.

2017-07-04

Korean society is thoroughly hierarchical.
For example, imagine an employee unknowingly entering the president’s office while a guest is present.
The more harshly or contemptuously the president scolds the employee, the more the guest admires him, thinking, “This president is powerful and impressive.”
Displaying authority is what earns respect.
From a Japanese perspective, this is the opposite.
A president who behaves this way would normally have his character questioned.
During the Joseon Dynasty, for common people to defy the ruling yangban class almost meant death.
Even if not, they were subjected to severe punishment.
While researching this book, I often felt deeply depressed.
Recently, a Japanese acquaintance living abroad told me this story.
He invited a Korean friend to his home.
The household employed a housekeeper, and when ice cream was served, he said, “Let’s all eat together,” and offered some to the housekeeper as well.
At that moment, the Korean exploded in anger, shouting, “What are you doing? How could you treat a housekeeper like that?”
When the astonished host replied, “In my home, we sometimes eat together with the housekeeper. There’s nothing strange about it,”
the Korean screamed, “You must never do that. I won’t allow it.”
In Korea, employers are rarely kind to housekeepers.
Those in authority believe it is right to command those below them.
If they act kindly, subordinates are thought to lose respect and become insolent.
Thus, company presidents always issue orders from their private offices and never eat together with employees in the cafeteria.
Japanese people, especially politicians, must study this Korean mentality far more carefully.