In the United States, the effects of social hierarchy are present in our everyday lives. We learn from a young age that we should respect our parents, our teachers and even the cashier at the local supermarket. We may change the tone of our voice or change our body language to be more respectful, however, it's also acceptable and even natural to be more casual with people as you get to know them better. While our adherence to social hierarchies varies greatly from relationship to relationship, Korea has a much more rigid structure of respect.
The most influential tradition of respect that I noticed here is the structure of the Korean language itself. While English speakers use the flexibility of word choice and tone to convey respect, Korean speakers also have seven levels of speech that demonstrate different levels of respect. They are separated into two categories: formal and informal. Within the formal category, there are five levels that you use depending on the other person's age or social standing. WIthin the informal category, there are two levels.
Let's imagine ourselves living an average day as a Korean adult. Maybe you go to work in the morning, go out with your co-workers for lunch and then meet up with your friends after work. When you arrive at work in the morning, you see the CEO of your company and immediately greet them with a bow.
