The Impact of Cross-Cultural Differences on Human Resource Management in Korean-Invested Enterprises in China

Purpose - In terms of human resource management, many Korean enterprises in China have experienced problems such as frequent resignations of Chinese employees and labor disputes. This can be mainly attributed to the fact that Chinese employees are not consistent with Korean vertical management methods, which is closely related to the national culture theory proposed by Hofstede, specifically the dimension of power distance and long- versus short-term orientation (LTO). Therefore, this research aims to investigate cultural differences between Korea and China from these two dimensions, and the impact on the human resource management of Korean-invested enterprises in China. Design/methodology - This research first utilizes the latest data (Wave 7) of the World Values Survey (WVS) to verify the difference in power distance and long- versus short-term orientation between Korean and Chinese cultures using responses from Korea and China, and then uses case analysis to analyze the impact of this cultural difference on the human resource management of Korean enterprises in China. Findings - Our main findings can be summarized as follows. Korea and China have significant differences in power distance and long- versus short-term orientation. In terms of power distance, Korean respondents show higher power distance compared to Chinese respondents. In the dimension of long- versus short-term orientation, it was found that Chinese respondents showed a shorter-term orientation, whereas Korean respondents showed a longer-term orientation. Originality/value - Previous studies put focus on the power distance and individualism-collectivism dimensions to explain cultural differences between Korea and China, and generated contradictory results. This research further confirms the cultural differences between Korea and China from the dimensions of power distance and long-versus short-term orientation using secondary data. The comparative studies from this perspective have long been underexplored and lack empirical confirmation.