So the accuracy on this might be a little shaky... but I have reason to believe it relatively truthful.
My boyfriend is a Japanese Studies minor who recently learned about what gifts to give to your Japanese friend when going over to their house. Conversely, what not to give. Knives and scissors, and anything sharp, are a HUGE no-no because they signify "cutting off the relationship". Similarly, you do not give gifts in sets of four (because apparently that denotes death).
Japan is NOT Korea, obviously. I am not grouping two separate Asian cultures together. However, a comprehensive Google search reveals that many of these things (read: all the ones I listed) are in fact the same in South Korean culture. So I have reason to believe that my search-fu denotes at least some truth, given the information my boyfriend received came from someone who is from Japan and the stuff I found matches his lesson almost word-for-word.
Sets of four are indeed inauspicious in Korean culture as well, as are messages delivered in red ink or print (red characters are associated with death and funerals). Business cards carry far greater importance in Korean business culture than they do in the west, and it is most polite to present them (and accept them) with both hands. The right hand is acceptable, but shows less respect. To use the left hand, particularly when not turning to fully face the other party, is considered flippant and downright rude.
Sooooo...if we have some skilled amateur artists (and no, I'm not going to ask Larry D. to do this...he's a pro and food on the table and a roof overhead take priority over even a much-loved game), perhaps a rendering could be made of a gamer (someone in a CoH logo T-shirt, perhaps?), looking back over his.her left shoulder, reaching out to hand four cards saying "thanks for nothing, NCSoft." In red...addressed to the CEO by his given name (also considered quite rude).
I'll look up a few more such customs...those were just the ones I recalled.
