You can definitely drink maek-ju (beer) if you prefer. (forgive me if spelling is not correct)

In terms of non-alcoholic drinks, I can’t really give first hand advice on that one. When I go drinking with my colleagues, I do notice that some colleagues do not drink, but most do.

Koreans seem to have a strong preference for you to accept alcoholic beverages when offered, particularly when the drink is being offered by someone senior. However, most Koreans are accepting of those who do not wish to drink.

The main thing is, even if you don’t drink, you should always attend social functions or gatherings when invited. Koreans are very group oriented and focus more upon relationships than results or outcomes. Contracts and partnerships are awarded on a relational basis, not so much on a performance basis.

To do business with anyone in Korea, first you need to establish a relationship with them, and a large part of this is achieved through after hours social gatherings. If you refuse to attend or participate in such gatherings, they will generally not do business with you.

Karen Swims last blog post..September – New Beginnings

I love the way Wendy describes the approach of some at networking events, and whilst I appreciate the need to do some networking at such events, I despise that approach.

When meeting with people in any forum, whether it be social networking sites or a traditional business function, it is critical treat everyone with basic dignity and respect.

I am not particularly active on social media myself, maybe I should give it more serious consideration.

In relation to your comment, Karen, that deals are closed on the golf course or tennis court, this is no doubt true in the western world. In Korea, where I live now, deals are closed during ‘soju’ (whiskey) sessions after hours. Generally speaking, Koreans will not trust you or do business with you if you are not prepared to drink with them.

Cheers

Andrew

@Vicky, Hi! The more anti-social media rants I read/heard, the clearer it became that people were missing this important point. I didn’t set out to become an advocate but my passion has other ideas! lol!

@Melissa, the first key is to identify where your market hangs out. For example, let’s say you want to target lawyers. Many blog and use twitter, and there’s a cool solo list that is quite active. You can use Twellow to find lawyers on Twitter and Google or Addictomatic to locate law blogs. Use twitter to listen and engage them in communication. At the heart of every strategy is identifying your market and then going where they congregate. I am always available if you want some specific strategies for your needs.

My favorite paragraph was “As with all sales and marketing efforts, we should be asking, “what’s in it for my customer or prospective customer?” This question allows us to view social media from a different perspective and can inform our adoption of the tools to fit our business model.”

I’m going to give that more thought because I think it’s such an important point.

Vicky H