Republic of Korea

Abstract

The culture of South Korea is rooted in Confucianism but recent decades have brought modifications reflective of international influences, changes in popular culture, the power of social media, and the fact that the nation’s economy is interconnected with global economic trends and pressures. At the heart of the Korean context is tradition, but its outer rings reflect recent government reforms designed to improve customer service, efficiency, and democratic processes. Those who deliver public services find themselves buffeted by competing; contradictory demands and the certainties of the past are in flux. How emotional labor is experienced by workers is reflected in their responses to the survey. Both emotive capacity and authentic emotive expression contribute to job satisfaction and personal fulfillment, while emotive pretending contributes to burnout. These findings reflect dynamics that somewhat mirror those in other Asian nations and somewhat mirror those of the West.