One of the most interesting parts of my internship in South Korea was experiencing how communication differed from what I am used to in the United States. Before arriving, I had learned about the comunication scale between low-context and high-context cultures. Low-context communication relies on being direct and explicit, while high-context communication often depends more on shared understanding, context, and nonverbal cues. Although every workplace is different, I noticed several differences in how people communication throughout my internship. At the same time, I also realized thatm any interactions were more similar than I expected.
One difference I noticed was how feedback was delivered in the workplace. Since I was an intern, my experience may have been different from that of full-time employees, but feedback was generally brief and focused on moving the project forward. My contact, Siho, would occasionally explain his suggestions in more detail, but when I submitted designs to my manager Hyo-sung, the feedback was usually concise. Sometimes he would simply tell me that the design looked good before moving on to the next task. Instead of spending a long time discussiong every detail or explaining what could be improved, the team seemed more focused on completing the next objective efficiently. Only until I started doing more marketing roles, I seen that feedback especially on a product needs to be stronger in that sense, because well who would want to focus on a product that is marketed badly? At first, I expected more detailed critiques when I would be designing, as that is something I have become used to in school, but I gradually adjusted to this faster pace of communication.
I also noticed an interesting communication style during meetings with the CEO. Although the conversations were conducted in Korean, I could still recognize certain patterns. The CEO often discussed what other companies or apps were doing, current design trends, and ideas the team should consider implementing. Even without understanding every word, I could tell that these conversations were centered on the company’s direction and keeping up with changes in the industry. Often just by listening to tone I could hear how stern his voice was, and depending on how my coworkers would react you’d be able to catch the same feeling. Watching these discussions taught me that communication is not only about understanding the langugage itself, but also about recognizing the purpose and structure of a conversation.
Outside of formal meetings, communication felt much more casual. Coworkers regularly joked around with each other, and talking about normal topics such as daily life, and personal experiences. One conversation that stood out to me happened around week 5 of my internship. As I was still meeting new coworkers continuously, one conversation happened around the sink as I was getting coffee. A new coworker Eun Joo, had introduced herself to me. For reference throughout this entire time, I’d say only 3 coworkers can speak English well, her being one of them. The next day as I was working in the lobby, she sat across from me and started asking about where I was from and what it was like living in the United States. She shared that she had previously studied in France, and we spent time comparing our experiences living abroad. She had mentioned how she enjoyed talking to me, and we had a great conversation. This conversation made me realize that despite coming from different cultures, people were naturally curious about one another’s experiences. Throughout my internship, I found that coworkers asked questions regardless of whether we were in the office or outside of work, which helped create a friendly atmosphere.
The biggest communication challenge I experienced was a simple misunderstanding early in my internship. I was asked to design a “hero page,” but because our discussions constantly switched between the mobile app and the company website, I assumed they meant the app. I designed an app home screen and presented it to Siho. When he looked at it, he explained that he had meant the hero section of the website. My mistake! Once he clarified what he wanted, I immediately understood the mistake and redesigned it for the website. Fortunately, it was not a major problem because I later created the app version as well, so the original work was still useful. This experience reminded me that asking clarifying questions is important, especially when working in another language or with unfamiliar design terminology. A quick question at the beginning could have prevented the misunderstanding entirely.
Aside from that experience, I did not face many communication difficulties. Some of my coworkers spoke limited English, and I do not speak Korean beyond a few basic phrases. Because of that, there were moments when conversations took a little longer or certain ideas did not translate properly. However, everyone was patient and willing to meet in the middle. We often relied on gestures, visual examples, simple wording, and context to understand each other. I learned that effective communication is not always about speaking the same language fluently. Being willing to listen, observe, and adapt can often be just as important.
Overall, my internship showed me that communication styles can vary across cultures, but many workplace interactions share the same goal of solving problems and working together. While I observed some characteristics that could be associated with a more high-context communication style, I found that my coworkers are welcoming, approachable, and willing to explain things whenever I needed clarification or help. My experience taught me to pay attention not only to what people say but also to the context in which they say it. More importantly, it reminded me that curiosity, patience, and flexibility are essential communication skills, especially when working in an international environment.
