What Can Business Leaders Learn from the Russia-DPRK Alliance?

As a ten-year-old boy studying in an elementary school in South Korea, I learned Chinese idioms, proverbs, and the beginner level of Confucius’ The Analects for almost three years. The course was an elective designed by my homeroom teacher in fourth grade. It was also part of a broader trend where South Korean parents emphasized the importance of liberal arts, much like how Latin was once taught in many U.S. parochial schools. 

After learning them from those years, Yīn huò wéi fú (轉禍爲福) has become my mantra and inspired me whenever I faced ordeals in my life and career. Originated from the Warring States period in China, Yīn huò wéi fú guides organizational leaders to navigate crises with the following takeaway: “Even in the face of any misfortune, if you strive with unwavering effort and strong will, you can transform misfortune into a blessing.”

Approximately two decades later, I had a chance to teach and conduct cross-cultural research at a British university’s global campus in the People's Republic of China (PRC). During those years, I learned on a personal level from my students, friends, and colleagues that the idiom is not used as prevalently by everyday Chinese as it is by South Koreans. Still, they confirmed that the Chinese idiom is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, a notion echoed by Sun Tzu’s famous idea of turning adversity into an advantage in The Art of War.

From global business leaders’ perspectives, the recent strategic alignment between North Korea (DPRK) and Russia is a factor leading to volatile market conditions in the Korean Peninsula, the broader North East Asian region, and beyond. 

Adding to the already fragile global supply chain, this partnership between DPRK and Russia will keep consumers worldwide on edge. Indeed, it’s perfect timing to remind the stakeholders who have a keen interest in the business of the Korean Peninsula of the lessons learned from the Chinese phrase, transforming misfortune into a blessing.  

Under current circumstances, entrepreneurs and business leaders in Seoul, Washington, D.C., Beijing, and Tokyo, who have been hardest hit financially, should learn to build resilience. In light of the Russia-DPRK alliance and the volatile market conditions it may create, leaders must go beyond mere survival tactics. 

They need to adopt a mindset that transforms adversity into opportunity, much like the idiom Yīn huò wéi fú teaches. Building resilience isn't just about enduring hardship but thriving amid it, an idea reflected in contemporary management thinking, particularly in the self-determination theory and resilience-building strategies. 

Self-determination theory, a robust conceptual framework in psychology, emphasizes the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering resilience. Entrepreneurs and leaders can find strength by fostering environments that empower their people. Giving teams the autonomy to act decisively during crises, placing them in roles that enhance their competence, and cultivating a strong sense of relatedness within the organization can transform the culture from fear to proactive opportunity-seeking. 

This shift is essential for business leaders in volatile regions like the Korean Peninsula, where unpredictability has recently become the norm. When leaders align their teams’ actions with their values and goals, they boost resilience and unlock new avenues for growth amid adversity. ​ 

Moreover, the idea of building resilience isn’t only a matter of psychological strength but of strategic foresight. As businesses face disruptions, whether geopolitical or economic, leaders must be prepared to adapt via modularity, diversity, and adaptability. They should ask themselves: What strengths will my team and I develop by navigating this crisis? How can we contain the negative impact and turn it into a strategic advantage? 

For example, entrepreneurs and businesses can tap into triangulating regional tensions through business apparatuses such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a forward-looking strategy to navigate regional tensions and promote de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula. By embracing this approach, companies weather the storm and emerge stronger, positioning themselves for long-term success in a transformed global market. 

Jungho Suh is a leading expert in management and entrepreneurship, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the George Washington University School of Business and as the Project Director of the GW Korean Management Institute. He is also an editor at two peer-reviewed journals, the Journal of the ICSB and SAGE Open. Dr. Suh specializes in evidence-based entrepreneurship, strategic human resource management, and travelers' behavioral science. His insights have been featured on CNN, ABC, NBC, and The Washington Post, underscoring his influence in the field. Renowned for his ability to translate complex academic research into actionable strategies, Dr. Suh helps businesses and organizations drive sustainable growth and operational excellence. His social media are LinkedIn: LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

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