Lay Koreans’ view of workplace bullying: Universal and cultural-specific bullying behaviours

Abstract

The paper began by questioning the applicability of Western concepts and measures of workplace bullying to the Korean culture. Facing the issue, the paper aims to examine what kind of acts might be considered to be the examples of bullying in South Korea. A qualitative study was conducted using the repertory grid technique. 42 Koreans participated and the result expanded upon Korean employees’ definition of workplace bullying and the types of acts that were considered to be examples of bullying. The results suggested cultural similarities and difference in the manifestation of bullying and suggested the importance of an indigenous approach to examine bullying in different cultures.