Two words best capture how South Korea’s market and society make decisions: “good enough” and “too much trouble.” These are not casual expressions but practical filters used by consumers and citizens in everyday life. Even business models that have been proven elsewhere lose their competitiveness in Korea if they fail to pass this test.
In the Korean context, “good enough” is not a negative judgment. It signals acceptance — a threshold that says a product or service is sufficient for immediate use. “Too much trouble,” by contrast, means rejection before price or quality are even considered. When something requires excessive explanation, long procedures, or significant time, consumers rarely complain. They simply walk away.
Many global brands miscalculate at this point. They assume that success abroad guarantees acceptance in Korea. But the question Korean consumers ask is blunt: Does this make my life easier right now? If the answer is unclear, global standards or brand philosophy offer little protection.
Korea’s well-known palli-palli culture is often mistaken for impatience. In reality, it reflects a rational intolerance for friction. Waiting, traveling, repeating steps, and setting up systems are all treated as hidden costs. As a result, solutions that are imperfect but convenient tend to outperform those that are refined but cumbersome.
The implication is clear. In South Korea, competitiveness no longer rests on whether a business model has been internationally validated. It rests on whether it reduces friction in daily life. “Good enough” grants entry. “Too much trouble” ensures a silent exit. This standard now applies not only to foreign brands, but increasingly to Korean institutions themselves.
VOW l Master of Satire
Socko
