Gates kicks up a storm in SK over handshake
Source: AFP |
April 24, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MICROSOFT founder Bill Gates' casual style was the subject of criticism in some South Korean media yesterday after he shook hands with President Park Geun-hye, with one hand in his pocket.
The picture of the meet-and-greet between Gates and Park on Monday was splashed on the front page of every national daily, some of which cropped out the offending pocketed hand while most chose to highlight it.
"Cultural difference, or an act of disrespect?" the JoongAng Ilbo wrote in the accompanying caption. "Disrespectful handshake? Casual handshake?" the Dong-A Ilbo asked.
South Korea, a deeply hierarchical, Confucian society where etiquette has great significance, is particularly sensitive to any possible slight to its national pride. While the presidential Blue House declined to comment, social networking sites were clogged with opinion.
"Even considering the cultural difference, there is an appropriate manner for certain occasions... how can he put his hand in his pocket when meeting a leader of the state?" tweeted @msryu67.
Some news portals posted montages of Gates shaking hands with other world leaders, which showed that he has some form when it comes to informal greetings. In a 2008 meeting with Park's predecessor Lee Myung-bak, Gates also kept one hand pocketed, although a 2001 picture with president Kim Dae-jung showed him adopting a more respectful, two-handed shake.
"Gates is a casual man who's not bound by customs so he shakes hands in this manner even when meeting heads of international organizations or top political figures," Dong-A Ilbo quoted an unnamed friend of his in Seoul as saying. And some Koreans suggested the media criticism was misplaced.
"Please, people... don't think your Confucian mindset is a universal norm elsewhere in the world," tweeted @itanomaly.
Gates was in South Korea as chairman of the nuclear start-up TerraPower, promoting its project to develop a next-generation nuclear reactor.
Park, meanwhile, was seeking the Microsoft founder's advice on her plans to build a "creative economy" that moves beyond South Korea's traditional manufacturing base.
The picture of the meet-and-greet between Gates and Park on Monday was splashed on the front page of every national daily, some of which cropped out the offending pocketed hand while most chose to highlight it.
"Cultural difference, or an act of disrespect?" the JoongAng Ilbo wrote in the accompanying caption. "Disrespectful handshake? Casual handshake?" the Dong-A Ilbo asked.
South Korea, a deeply hierarchical, Confucian society where etiquette has great significance, is particularly sensitive to any possible slight to its national pride. While the presidential Blue House declined to comment, social networking sites were clogged with opinion.
"Even considering the cultural difference, there is an appropriate manner for certain occasions... how can he put his hand in his pocket when meeting a leader of the state?" tweeted @msryu67.
Some news portals posted montages of Gates shaking hands with other world leaders, which showed that he has some form when it comes to informal greetings. In a 2008 meeting with Park's predecessor Lee Myung-bak, Gates also kept one hand pocketed, although a 2001 picture with president Kim Dae-jung showed him adopting a more respectful, two-handed shake.
"Gates is a casual man who's not bound by customs so he shakes hands in this manner even when meeting heads of international organizations or top political figures," Dong-A Ilbo quoted an unnamed friend of his in Seoul as saying. And some Koreans suggested the media criticism was misplaced.
"Please, people... don't think your Confucian mindset is a universal norm elsewhere in the world," tweeted @itanomaly.
Gates was in South Korea as chairman of the nuclear start-up TerraPower, promoting its project to develop a next-generation nuclear reactor.
Park, meanwhile, was seeking the Microsoft founder's advice on her plans to build a "creative economy" that moves beyond South Korea's traditional manufacturing base.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
