세계화, 정보화된 현대사회에서는 문화간 비즈니스 커뮤니케이션이 비즈니스의 핵심역량으로 부각되었다. 문화간 비즈니스 커뮤니케이션이란 비즈니스 환경에서 다른 문화적 배경을 가진 개인 혹은 집단 간의 커뮤니케이션을 뜻한다. 한국에서도 다국적기업의 증가 및 국내기업에서의 외국과의 비즈니스 증대로 인해 문화간 커뮤니케이션의 빈도 및 중요성은 증가하고 있으나 한국인의 역사적 배경과 민족 문화적 특성으로 인해 외국인과의 문화간 커뮤니케이션에 많은 장애를 보이고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 영어로 이루어지는 다국적기업의 국제회의에서 나타나는 한국인의 문화간 비즈니스 커뮤니케이션의 장애요인을 외국인의 관점으로 파악함으로써 원활한 문화간 비즈니스 커뮤니케이션을 위한 개선점을 모색해보고자 하였다. 이에 다국적기업에 근무 중이며 한국인과의 국제회의 경험을 가진 외국인 23명과 심층인터뷰를 실시한 결과, 국제회의에서 한국인의 문화간 비즈니스 커뮤니케이션 장애요인은 회의 요인, 문화적 요인, 언어적 요인, 비언어적 요인의 순으로 나타났으며 각 장애요소들은 별개가 아니라 상호작용을 하며 밀접히 연관되어 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 이러한 장애요인을 개선하기 위한 방법은 영어커뮤니케이션 능력 함양, 회의커뮤니케이션 능력 개발, 이문화 수용으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 기업 국제회의 연구의 기초자료로서 비서직을 포함한 기업의 한국직원들이 문화간 비즈니스 커뮤니케이션 역량을 강화하는데 올바른 방향을 제시해 줄 수 있을 것이다.

Intercultural business communication capacities have become a core competency in the business world. Also, in Korea, as the numbers of multinational companies and cross-border business activities have rapidly increased, the importance of intercultural communication is highly valued. However, due to the national and historic traits, Koreans have many difficulties in doing intercultural business communication in the business world. In this regards, the purpose of this study are two-fold ; Firstly, to identify Koreans' communications barriers in international meetings of the multinational companies from the foreigners' point of view. Secondly, to find feasible solutions to enhance the intercultural business communication competency of Koreans. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 foreigners. As a result of the analysis, four communication factors were identified as barriers in Koreans’ business communication at international meetings; namely, the verbal factor, the non-verbal factor, the meeting factor and the cultural factor. Analysis also indicates that all those factors do not exist separately but are closely connected to other factors. As a next stage, a solution to improve Koreans’ intercultural business communication was then sought. Firstly, English communication should be reinforced. Secondly, effective meeting communication capabilities should be gained. Thirdly, Koreans need to understand and learn other cultures without any bias. As a fundamental data, this study can provide Korean companies with the right direction to plan the language training to enhance their employees’ business communication competency.

Intercultural business communication capacities have become a core competency in the business world. Also, in Korea, as the numbers of multinational companies and cross-border business activities have rapidly increased, the importance of intercultural communication is highly valued. However, due to the national and historic traits, Koreans have many difficulties in doing intercultural business communication in the business world. In this regards, the purpose of this study are two-fold ; Firstly, to identify Koreans' communications barriers in international meetings of the multinational companies from the foreigners' point of view. Secondly, to find feasible solutions to enhance the intercultural business communication competency of Koreans. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 foreigners. As a result of the analysis, four communication factors were identified as barriers in Koreans’ business communication at international meetings; namely, the verbal factor, the non-verbal factor, the meeting factor and the cultural factor. Analysis also indicates that all those factors do not exist separately but are closely connected to other factors. As a next stage, a solution to improve Koreans’ intercultural business communication was then sought. Firstly, English communication should be reinforced. Secondly, effective meeting communication capabilities should be gained. Thirdly, Koreans need to understand and learn other cultures without any bias. As a fundamental data, this study can provide Korean companies with the right direction to plan the language training to enhance their employees’ business communication competency.

Intercultural Communication, Business Communication