Seeing how popular the Japanese and Koreans are on this board :-), I thought I'd share some musings about some of my experiences and observations. One caveat, these musings are coming from a "Colompino" (love that KM) and I'm by no means an expert on the two cultures but I do have extensive experience with them in business and social settings (yes, I've mongered with them as well).

I've always been fascinated by the stark differences in the 2 cultures. As you know, the Japanese and Koreans absolutely hate each other (or used to) and vehemently deny having common roots. Trivia: did you know that Japan and Korea are one of the only two countries that regularly eat sticky rice.

IMO, Koreans are a passionate, intensely independent people that wear their emotions on their sleave and hate everyone, including many of their own. Big time partiers as a group and intensely loyal if they like you. They're not shy about letting you know they're pissed nor are they shy about out maneuvering you in business. They will negotiate hard in every context, i.e. with the bargirls as if their lives depended on it and will work harder than most groups I know to make a buck.

IMO, the Japanese are a much more disciplined group with an identity geared towards the whole or to a larger institution such as their company or country. But the drawback is, especially doing business, it is difficult to get a handle on how the Japanese truly think about you and it is next to impossible to build up the necessary relationships if you are not Japanese. The Japanese are not not confrontational (very few litigators in Japan) and perhaps a reason why they have reputations for not negotiating at the bars in Bangkok. IMO, it is imperative not to offend and bring negativity to their company or country.

Lots of theories abound on why the two are so different, but I found one simplistic theory especially interesting. A whole lot has to do with their differing histories. Japan has not had a history of being repeatedly invaded b/c it’s an island nation. Compare Korea, which is a 5000+ y.o. culture that has been able to retain its culture and language despite repeated invasions by it's much bigger and stronger neighbors (China, Mongolia, Russia, English Evangelicals, French NGOs). A weaker, less passionate, less independent group of people would have been swallowed up long time ago, but yet this dinky little country has outlasted it all. This speaks volumes on the Korean attitude that you work your ass off, party hard like there's no tomorrow, and take no shit from no one. Also added into this interesting brew is that every Korean male older than 24 y.o. has had compulsory military service in the most fortified border of the world, where they are not only taught all that is martial, but the military seems to further reinforces that all hell can break loose at any time and you party raucously at every opportunity.