ABSTRACT
The human resource management of Korean firms features extensive evaluation efforts in the recruitment of employees, strong and persistent employee training programs at all managerial levels, and giving strong performance incentives to employees. The firms strongly invest to secure the most qualified employees they can get a hold of by evaluating applicants extensively and not only by their professional knowledge and skills, but also by their fit with company cultures. Furthermore, employees are trained extensively throughout their professional careers to strengthen their skills and maximize their value for the companies. Compensation and promotion systems have changed since the 1990s from strong seniority orientation to hybrid schemes which consider both seniority and performance. Strong financial performance incentives are widely applied. Korean-style human resource management is supported by the strong achievement orientation of Koreans who are willing to dedicate themselves to their work in order to achieve economic and social success. Furthermore, Confucian traditions of strong learning orientation support the effectiveness of corporate training programs.
