When Si-woo, a graduate student from South Korea, filled out her university admission papers, she was confused when the form asked her to list her "first name" and her "last name." She answered Pak then Si-woo. Why did she list her last name first?
A) She doesn't understand the reference to "last name."
B) She comes from a collectivist culture which values family over self.
C) She comes from a collectivist culture which values self over group membership.
D) She comes from a low-context culture which emphasizes humility.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In many East Asian cultures, including South Korea, the family name is traditionally placed before the given name. This is because the family name represents the collective identity of the family and is considered more important than the individual's given name. Therefore, Si-woo listed her family name (Pak) first and her given name (Si-woo) second.

When Si-Woo, a Graduate Student from South Korea, Filled Out