AustCham Korea was pleased to once again co-host the HRD Training Thursday event with the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), marking the third consecutive year of this collaboration. Held at FKCCI’s office in Gangnam, the session was led by Simon Bureau, Founder & CEO of Vectis, and focused on navigating the complexities of multicultural and multigenerational work environments.

The event brought together Korean and international professionals eager to better understand the subtle—and at times stark—differences in workplace culture. Key themes included Korea’s traditional values of nunchi, hierarchy, and the importance of saving face, contrasted with more direct, individualist approaches common in Western workplaces. These differences often underpin communication challenges in the Korean offices of global companies.

The session also examined cross-cultural interpretations of silence, the tension between confrontational and non-confrontational cultures, and how communication styles are shaped by broader traditions of collectivism vs. individualism. Practical insights were shared on how to better engage with Korea’s MZ generation, offering participants actionable strategies to enhance team cohesion and mutual understanding.

A highlight of the event was the interactive group discussion, where attendees shared personal experiences and insights into managing diverse teams.

We were especially delighted by the participation of Mitchell Killeen, CEO of Polymirae—one of AustCham Korea’s valued Silver Members—whose contributions, alongside his management team, sparked thoughtful dialogue and enriched the overall session.

AustCham Korea looks forward to continuing to support open conversations on cross-cultural understanding and inclusive leadership in Korea’s increasingly globalised workplace.