Assessing the Impacts of Korean Working Culture on Human Capital Development of the Malaysian context under Look East Policy

Nabila Huda Ibrahim, Keum Hyun Kim, Seung Yoan Rou

Abstract


: Look East Policy (LEP) implemented in 1982 with the intention to produce Malaysian work forces with positive work ethics and values for Malaysian development. After four decades’ dispatching the students and officials to the East Asian countries, i.e., South Korea and Japan, the productivity of Malaysia has significantly increased and contributed to the foundation of a developing nation. This study aims to assess the level of human capital development by specifically focusing on Korean culture emulation among LEP’s participants.  Underpinning human capital theory as an investment, this study employs mixed-methods technique. A survey done with 202 LEP participants who graduated and completed their study and training from South Korea indicates a high level of human capital development with the mean value of 5.908 (SD=0.683). Group interview with officials from Public Service Development (PSD) highlights the influence of Korean culture emulation on human capital development as LEP’s participants internalize Korean working culture. The practice of Korean working culture in their workplace regardless fully or partially suggests the main objective of LEP to develop human capital has been achieved through the emulation of Korean working culture. A specific platform to promote Korean working culture should be considered/reinforced to optimize human capital development investment.

 


Keywords


Human capital development; look east policy; Korean culture; cultural emulation; Look East policy participants

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aboo Talib, K., Sulaiman, N., & Saad, S. (2017). Assessing the Look East Policy: Moving beyond work culture and ethic. Asian Social Science, 9(17), 111–123.

Cho, D. (2015). Korea should cooperate closely with Malaysia in its Look East Policy 2.0. Chindia Plus Quarterly, 18 (Spring).

Al-Qudah, S., Shrouf, H., & Nusairat, N. M. (2019). The effect of employee empowerment on strategic performance in manufacturing companies. American Academic & Scholarly Research Journal, 11(2).

Becker, G. S. (2002). Human capital. In The concise encyclopedia of economics (2nd ed., pp. 1–12). Liberty Fund.

Dasar Pandang ke Timur. (2009). Dasar pandang ke timur. Prime Minister’s Office Malaysia. https://www.pmo.gov.my/dokumenattached/Dasar/06DASAR_PANDANG_KE_TIMUR.pdf

Daud, M. A. D., & Besar, J. A. (2017). Meninjau kembali Dasar Pandang ke Timur Mahathir: Penelitian aspek pelaksanaan dan implikasi. Geografia: Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 12(9).

Dayton, L. (2020, June 2). How South Korea made itself a global innovation leader. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01466-7

Fix & Go. (2022, June 8). Fix & Go manfaatkan kepakaran Korea Selatan bagi perluas servis pemulihan data di Malaysia. https://fixandgo.my/2022/06/08/fix-go-manfaatkan-kepakaran-korea-selatan-bagi-perluas-servis-pemulihan-data-di-malaysia/

Fragkos, K. C., Makrykosta, P., & Frangos, C. C. (2020). Structural empowerment is a strong predictor of organizational commitment in nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(4), 939–962. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14299

Japan International Cooperation Agency. (2019). JICA knowledge co-creation program.

Ibrahim, N. H., Kim, K. H., & Rou, S. Y. (2023). Developing social capital and community empowerment among Malaysian youth through international youth exchange programs with South Korea and Japan. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 20(4), 441–455.

Ismail, H. (2022). Impak gelombang kedua Dasar Pandang ke Timur terhadap perubahan struktur dan budaya di Malaysia dan rantau Asia Tenggara. Akademika, 92(1), 195–207.

Ismail, H., Aboo Talib Khalid, K., & Ramli, N. A. (2025). Revisiting the second wave impacts of the Look East Policy in Malaysia. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(2), 1370–1382. https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v4i2.6505

Ismail, H., & Yaakob, A. F. (2024). The second wave of Look East Policy (LEP 2.0): Enhancing the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 21(1).

Khalid, S. A. A., Saad, S., Awang, A. H., & Tambi, N. (2021). Analisis perbandingan amalan pembentukan integriti polis antara negara Asia Pasifik: Satu kajian literatur. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 18(5).

Khalid, K. A. T., Sulaiman, N., Isa, S. M., & Saad, S. (2013). Assessing the Look East Policy: Moving beyond work culture and ethic. Asian Social Science, 9(17), 111–119.

Kolodina, E., Pashkova, I., & Tsydenova, D. (2022). Korean corporate culture and its transformation in the era of the pandemic. In SHS Web of Conferences (Vol. 134, Article 00149). EDP Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202213400149

Lazim, A. S. (2011). Dua dekad Dasar Pandang ke Timur: Satu penilaian aspek pendidikan (1982–2002). Penerbit Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

Loy, N. (2008). Culture, institution, and economic development in South Korea. Global and Strategis, 2(2), 155–172.

Miyoung, S., & Raja, S. S. (2019). The foundational decades of Malaysia–South Korea economic relations, 1960–1981. Wilayah: The International Journal of East Asian Studies, 8(1), 80–98.

Mohamed, I. (2022, October 7). U.S. weekly ranks Korea world’s 6th most powerful country. Korea.net. https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Society/view?articleId=222404

Muhammad Nor, R., Hassan, A., & Paidi, R. (2017). First-hand learning participation: An empirical analysis of the learning outcomes of long-term stay Malaysian students in Japan. Wilayah: The International Journal of East Asian Studies, 6(1), 48–64.

Muhumuza, B., & Nangoli, S. (2019). Revisiting the potential of human capital development to predict commitment: An empirical approach. Industrial and Commercial Training.

Pieterse, A. N., van Knippenberg, D., Schippers, M., & Stam, D. (2010). Transformational and transactional leadership and innovative behavior: The moderating role of psychological empowerment. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31(4), 609–623. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.650

Raja, E. S. S., & Hwang, I. (2017). The second wave of Malaysia’s Look East Policy (LEP): Bringing new continuity, change, and challenges. Dong-A Yeongu [East Asian Studies], 36(1), 173–208.

Rego, A., Sousa, F., Marques, C., & Cunha, M. P. e (2012). Authentic leadership promoting employees’ psychological capital and creativity. Journal of Business Research, 65(3), 429–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.10.003

International Labour Organization. (2004). Human resources development recommendation, 2004 (No. 195). https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:312533

Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Pt. 2), S71–S102.

Schultz, T. W. (1961). Investment in human capital. American Economic Review, 51(1), 1–17.

Sharma, B. R., & Rai, S. (2015). A study to develop an instrument to measure work ethic. Global Business Review, 16(2), 244–257. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150914564410

Diplomacy Beyond Plus. (2022, October 3). Strategic partnership between South Korea and Malaysia. https://diplomacybeyond.com/strategic-partnership-between-south-korea-and-malaysia/

Sulistio, A., & Darmastuti, I. (2024). Employee empowerment and job satisfaction: A systematic literature review. Research Horizon, 4(6), 273–280.

Tan, S. K. (2014). The relationship between cultural values and national competitiveness: General patterns and specific country studies of South Korea and Malaysia (Doctoral dissertation, Seoul National University).

Xie, Y. (2024). A study on the current status of overseas education development and its impact on importing and exporting countries. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 45, 637–642.

Yepes-Baldó, M., Romeo, M., & Berger, R. (2013). Human capital questionnaire: Assessment of European nurses’ perceptions as indicators of human capital quality. Nursing & Health Sciences, 15(2), 229–234. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12018




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2026.2301.29

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


-


 

_________________________________________________

eISSN 1823-884x

Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan
MALAYSIA

© Copyright UKM Press, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia