Oak (29) also speaks about dependence on situations in order to communicate that Koreans are very fond of the protocol required by the typologies of situations. On the one hand, this is positive because it provides them with behavioral patterns which are pretty clear and which have proved to be advantageous so far. On the other hand, this might prove to be at least challenging in the circumstances in which the situations involve people coming from different cultural environments. The question which comes to mind is should contemporary South Korea loosen its attachment to Confucian beliefs in order to achieve a greater openness towards its partners or not? The solution is not a simple one.

Emotions play a fundamental part in the interaction between people and it must be underlined that Koreans first establish the category to which their emotions belong and afterward decide on the behavior they must adopt. This connection between emotion and behavior is a lot stronger than in the Western culture where it often happens for people to be guided by their emotions and to act spontaneously (this happens because through education one is not taught that certain emotions rigorously imply certain behavior types, but is rather likely to appreciate spontaneity, individuality and originality). The main source of potential conflict is to be found in that Koreans favor the group over the individual, whereas the Americans are individualistic and tend to base their behavior on abstract...

(Oak, 35) All in all, it can be stated that the Confucian principles have an extremely strong impact upon the construction and development of social relationships in the contemporary South Korean world and this is not without consequences.
Works Cited

Kim, a.E., Park, G.S. Nationalism, Confucianism, work ethic and industrialization in South Korea, Journal of contemporary Asia, issue 1, 203, pages 37-49

Koo, J.H., & Nahm, a.C. (1997). An Introduction to Korean Culture, (pp. 17-98). Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International Corp.

Oak, S., & Martin, V. (2000). Understanding influences on American and Korean society. In American/Korean contrasts: Patterns and expectations in the U.S. And Korea, (pp. 14-44).

Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym International Corp., Social structure and values in South Korea in countrystudies.us, Retrieved December 3, 2010 from http://countrystudies.us/south-korea/34.htm

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