Putting Korean HRM into the East Asian context

This chapter analyzes the human resource management (HRM) practices in South Korea, juxtaposing them with those of Japan and China, within the context of their institutional environments and cultural values. It explores how Korea's HRM is influenced by its historical interactions with Japan - a model of economic development despite colonial tensions - and China, the origin of Confucianism, which deeply permeates Korean culture. The chapter examines Korean HR practices (recruiting and selection, training and development, pay and benefits, retention and outplacement, industrial relations, diversity and employee wellbeing, and global talent management), summarizing the persisting commonalities it has with Japanese and Chinese HR practices. It also discusses the distinctive Korean HR practices, driven by the adoption of neoliberal market principles and changes in cultural values. It concludes by contemplating the convergence and divergence of East Asian HRM.