Special event focuses on Korean culture
With StarPlus Energy’s development of a $2.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Kokomo, the community will see an influx of Korean residents and businesses. By familiarizing the community with these new neighbors, the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance is working to create a welcoming space in Kokomo.
“Embracing and understanding the Korean culture lays the foundation for successful collaboration and mutual respect,” said Lori Dukes, president and CEO of the Alliance. “Cultural acceptance in business creates a diverse and inclusive environment, fostering innovation and mutual understanding, leading to sustainable and profitable relationships.”
In an effort to build those relationships, the Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce is presenting Korean Culture Integration, a special event on Monday, March 6 at Kresge Auditorium on the Indiana University Kokomo campus.
Speaking at the event will be Seung-kyung Kim, director of the Institute of Korean Studies at IU Bloomington. She will present “Intercultural Understanding and Communication: South Korean Corporate Culture in the 21st Century.”
Kim will address several topics, including the following:
- An overview of Korean society and culture
- A historical look at Korea and how it’s impacted the Korea of today
- Corporate culture in Korea and how it’s different from the American corporate culture
- Samsung and Samsung SDI’s corporate culture
A Korea Foundation Endowed Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Kim is a cultural anthropologist by training. Her scholarship addresses the participation of women in social movements as workers and in relation to the state; the processes of transnational migration in the context of globalization and the experiences of families in that process; and feminist theories of social change.
The program will be 6 to 7 p.m., with a reception at 5:30 p.m. The event is free but pre-registration is required as space is limited. You may register at bit.ly/ChamberCulture or by calling 765-457-5301.
For those unable to attend, the program will be recorded and available at greaterkokomo.com.