Before The Storm - Bukcheon, Jongro-gu, Seoul, August 2010 © T Coyner 2010

Before the Storm
Bukcheon, Jongro-gu, Seoul, August 2010
© Tom Coyner 2010
To see previous opening photos, go to
Opening Shots
                          If you are a US citizen residing in Korea, please register with the US Embassy at             
             http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul/wwwh3210.html - It could be the smartest use of time you may ever make.

Last updated:
Saturday, August 28, 2010

 

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Handy Guide for Doing Business in  the Far East:
Guide to Business Etiquette in Asia
- a country-by-country guide from Asia Pulse

Related Sites:
* Soft Landing
    Consulting (my biz site)

* Seoul Quakers
*
Ham Sok Hon
* Tokyo Quakers
* Seoul Hash

Comments, Ideas and Suggestions Welcomed!
 

Struggling to understand NE Asia while keeping a sense of humor? 

If the answer is yes, this site is for you.

             


This site began in 1996 as a vanity site as well as a means of learning more about the Internet. It has become a minor institution for those people interested in NE Asia with a sense of  humor as well as professional and academic concerns.

I don't take this enterprise too seriously but I do try to keep it as current as possible.  Should you have any contributions, I hope you may share them with us all care of the below left e-mail button.

O-genki de, chal isseo, slán go foill...Tom Coyner

 

Our topics are organized as follows:

  • True Facts - a series of accounts illustrating that the truth is weirder than fiction

  • Tall Tales - jokes, poems, photos, graphics and essays

  • Top Ten (and Other Lists) - originally about computers, this section lost its way as funnier lists were sent in.
     
  • Understanding Japan- this was the first section devoted to learning about this part of the world; it is now quite huge.
     
  • Understanding Korea - this soon followed the Japan section with an especially large section on North Korea.

  • Serious Stuff - serious topics that don't fit into other sections are included here including religion, economics, politics, etc.
     
  • RPCVs Korea - for Korea Returned Peace Corps Volunteers - with e-mail directory along with photos/contributions of and by RPCVs--recently expanded.

  • Friends of IBEAR-devoted to alumnae and friends of the University of Southern California IBEAR MBA program; includes extensive e-mail directory photos/contributions of and by IBEAR alumnae. 

Tom Coyner
Residence E-mail:
tomcoyner@gmail.com

Residence Tel: +8
2-2-764-8387;
 Fax: +82-2-741-9334

Tom's Mobile Tel: +82-11-9099-6195
Tom's Work E-mail: tom@softlandingkorea.com
Tom's Work Web:
http://www.softlandingkorea.com/

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Understanding Korea:
(get online Korea news by clicking on the above heading)

            
*  Doing Business in Korea:  An Expanded Guide, a totally updated and greatly expanded guide over its predecessor, Mastering Business in Korea,  is now on saleTo get an introduction and to place an order for your copy, click here.

 

* New U.S. Thinking Needed on N. Korea - America needs to reassess its policy options after viewing matters from N Korea's perspective, by Tom Coyner, JoongAng Daily, June 22, 2010;
*
Bosses Shouldn't Fear Foreign Media -
Korean firms are missing a golden chance when they refuse to meet with foreign journalists, by Tom Coyner,
JoongAng Daily, May 26, 2010;
* How to Select an Attorney in Korea - Legal costs can by managed in Korea when the client consumer monitors and controls legal services, by Tom Coyner, Journal
of the American Chamber in Korea, 2nd Quarter 2010;
* A Hidden Trade Barrier - South Korea's large law firm oligarchy unnecessarily inflates the cost of doing business in Korea, by Tom Coyner,
JoongAng Daily, March 1, 2010
.
 *  Published Articles on Doing Business in Korea - practical tips and perspectives, updated weekly, by Tom Coyner.

Understanding Japan:
* Japan’s Outcasts Still Wait for Acceptance
-
The election of Pres. Obama causes Japanese to reflect on discrimination of their buraku-min, The New York Times,  January 15, 2009;
*
In Japan, it's the men who want to be skinny and cute
 - Could this be Japan's latest shaggy miniature dog story?  International Herald Tribune,  November 19, 2007;

* The Sumo Champion, the Sickie and the Story that Shook Japan - The sight of Mongolian-born Asashoryu playing football when he was on sick leave, and rumours that he wants to retire, have caused uproar, The Independent, Published: 07 August 2007;
*
Japan's Subtle Etiquette Code
- How to survive in Japan's virtual 24X7 cocktail party of a society, International Herald Tribune,  July 10, 2007.

Serious Stuff:
*
Welcome to This Brave New World
- Tom Coyner attempts to puts recent events into their historical context, suggesting just now have we entered the 21st century, Korea Times, November 27, 2008;
*
What is anti-Americanism?  Anti-Americanism doesn't deal with reality, but many admirers of the United States aren't dealing with reality, either, JoongAng Daily, May 18, 2007;

*
A Forensic Psychologist's View of the VA Tech Massacre
- Interview of Dr. Michael Welner, Hugh Hewitt Show, April 2007;
* Who Are the Quakers? -
Tom's frequently updated illustrated, hypertext essay on the Quakers' role in society

Tall Tales & Photo Essays:
* Seoul's Secret Garden, Changdeok Palace - by Tom Coyner, November 2009;
* Mongolian Clan Adventure - by Tom Coyner, Ulaan Bataar and Dornod Aimag, July 2008;
* Tokyo and Takayama, Japan - by Tom Coyner, May~June 2008;
* Anti-Mad Cow Seoul Street Demonstrations - by Tom Coyner, Seoul, June 2008;

* The Value of a Drink - Quotes by famous people with health advisories.

True Facts:
 * 1919 Political Poster -
A graphic example of why abolitionism failed;
*
Woman Busted in Crack Whinge, News.com.au,
December 20, 2006;
*
Flatulence Causes Emergency Landing  How to get banned from flying on an airline for a very long time, Agence France-Presse, December 7, 2006;
*
Man cuts off penis in drunken bet
-
A man who cut off his own penis in a drunken bet had it stitched back on by Latvian doctors, The Australian, July 21, 2006.

Top 10 (& Other Lists):
* 16 Actual Comments Made by Cops;
The World's 20 Weirdest Law Cases;
* The 86 Rules of Boozing;
* Nine Grouchoisms.