5 Things Foreigners Struggle With in Korean Offices
So, you’ve secured a job in the Land of Morning Calm. You have your blazer on, your commute route memorized, and you are ready to be the most efficient employee Seoul has ever seen.
But within a week, you find yourself sitting at your desk, confused, slightly terrified, and wondering why you are the only one struggling to open a file attachment.
Korean work culture is famous for its intensity, but it’s the little cultural quirks that truly trip foreigners up. It’s not just the language barrier; it’s the lifestyle barrier.
If you are feeling a bit lost in the corporate jungle of Korea, don’t worry—you are not alone. Here are the 5 things every foreigner struggles with in a Korean office (and how to survive them).
1. The “Name Game” Panic (Titles Over Everything)
In the West, we love being casual. “Hey Bob, can you check this?” In Korea, if you call your boss by his first name, you might as well pack your desk. The hierarchy is strict. You need to memorize a list of titles that sounds like a military ranking: Daeri-nim (Assistant Manager), Gwajang-nim (Manager), Chajang-nim (Deputy General Manager), Bujang-nim (General Manager). The Struggle: You will inevitably mix them up. You will call a Bujang a Daeri and see the light leave their eyes. The Fix: When in doubt, just use “Manager-nim” or stick to the universal “Seon-saeng-nim” (Teacher/Respected Person) until you memorize the org chart.
2. The “Speed Eating” Olympics
Koreans do everything fast (Palli-Palli), and lunch is no exception. In many Western countries, lunch is a time to relax, maybe read a book, or chat for an hour. In a Korean office, lunch is a tactical mission. The team marches to a restaurant, inhales a boiling hot stew in 15 minutes, and marches back to the office. The Struggle: You are still blowing on your soup while your coworkers are already standing up to leave. The Aftermath: Then comes the “Group Tooth Brushing.” You will walk into the bathroom and see five coworkers aggressively brushing their teeth in silence. It’s hygienic, yes, but definitely a culture shock!
3. The “Hwp” File Nightmare (Tech Struggles)
Korea has the fastest internet in the world. It is a futuristic tech hub. So why, pray tell, does the office software feel like it’s from 1999? The Struggle: Government offices and many traditional companies do not use Microsoft Word. They use Hangul Word Processor (.hwp). If you are a Mac user, this file format is your worst enemy. It refuses to open. It breaks your formatting. Also, be prepared to use “Internet Explorer” for banking or tax sites because of ancient security certificates. It’s a digital time travel experience nobody asked for.
4. The “Guilt” of Leaving at 6 PM
Your contract says 9 to 6. The clock strikes 6:00 PM. You pack your bag. Suddenly, you feel the eyes. The manager is still typing. The assistant manager is staring at a spreadsheet. Nobody is moving. The Struggle: This is the culture of Nunchi (reading the atmosphere). Leaving before your superior is technically allowed, but socially awkward. You end up sitting there, “fake working,” just waiting for someone else to stand up first. The Fix: If you must leave, announce it loud and clear with a polite “I am leaving first!” (Meon-jeo ga-bo-gess-seumnida) and run before the guilt catches you.
5. The “Hoesik” Survival (Forced Fun)
Ah, the company dinner. Free BBQ! Free alcohol! Sounds great, right? The Struggle: It’s not a party; it’s work extension. You have to pour drinks for the boss, listen to long speeches, and pretend you aren’t tired. The hardest part? The “Second Round” (karaoke) and “Third Round” (more drinking). Trying to escape a Hoesik after just one round requires the stealth of a ninja. While younger companies are stopping this practice, traditional offices still expect you to rally until late at night… and show up at 9 AM the next day looking fresh.
Final Thoughts
Working in a Korean office is a character-building experience. It will teach you patience, digestion speed, and how to bow at the perfect angle. Just remember: if you accidentally delete a .hwp file or leave before the boss, just smile, apologize, and blame it on being a “confused foreigner.” It works every time!