A Day in the Life of a Korean Office Worker
If your image of working in Korea comes entirely from Netflix, you probably imagine a handsome CEO in a three-piece suit who spends his days buying coffee for the new intern and staring romantically out of a floor-to-ceiling window.
I hate to burst your bubble, but real life in a Korean office is a little less romantic and a lot more caffeinated.
Korea is famous for its intense work ethic. We are the country that invented the “Miracle on the Han River” through sheer grit and long hours. But what does that actually look like on a Tuesday?
As a local, let me take you through the hourly breakdown of a typical Korean office worker. It involves a lot of rushing, a specific toothbrushing ritual, and enough iced coffee to kill a small horse.
7:00 AM: The “Hell Train” Commute The day begins with the Seoul Metro. If you think the Tube in London or the Subway in NYC is crowded, you haven’t experienced Line 2 in Seoul during rush hour. We call it the “Hell Train” (Jiok-cheol). You don’t walk into the train; you are pushed in by the mass of humanity behind you. It is silent, though. Everyone is glued to their smartphones, watching YouTube or reading Webtoons to dissociate from the fact that they are pressed against a stranger’s armpit.
8:30 AM: The “Ah-Ah” Ritual (Survival Juice) Before sitting at the desk, there is one mandatory stop: The Cafe. Even if it is -10°C (14°F) and snowing, you will see Korean workers holding a plastic cup of Iced Americano. We call it “Ah-Ah.” We don’t drink it for the flavor. We drink it because hot coffee takes too long to cool down, and we need the caffeine immediately to boot up our brains. It is the fuel of the nation.
9:00 AM: The “Nunchi” Login Work officially starts. But in Korea, you are rarely just “working.” You are also practicing “Nunchi” (reading the room). The office is usually very quiet. The sound of aggressive typing fills the air. You check your KakaoTalk (on the PC version, hidden behind a spreadsheet) and begin the morning grind.
12:00 PM: The Speed Lunch & Toothbrush Army Lunch is the highlight of the day. But this isn’t a leisurely French bistro experience. This is a tactical mission. The team usually goes out together (solo lunch is becoming more common, but group lunch is still the norm). We march to a restaurant, order a boiling stew (Kimchi-jjigae or Budae-jjigae), and inhale it in 20 minutes. The Weird Part: Immediately after lunch, walk into any office bathroom, and you will see 5-6 people aggressively brushing their teeth at the sink. Oral hygiene is a huge deal in Korean offices. If you don’t brush, you are the odd one out.
3:00 PM: The Afternoon Slump This is when the Mix Coffee comes out. Those little yellow sticks of instant coffee/sugar/creamer powder are legendary. They are basically sugar bombs that keep the workforce conscious until the evening.
6:00 PM: The “Can I Leave?” Stare The clock strikes six. In the West, you pack your bag. In Korea, you look at your boss. Is he packing his bag? No? Then you aren’t either. This is changing with the younger generation (Gen Z is brave about leaving on time), but in many traditional companies, leaving before the boss is still seen as having “bad Nunchi.” So, we sit there, pretending to type, waiting for the signal that it’s okay to go home.
7:30 PM: Hoesik (The Company Dinner) Sometimes, you don’t go home. You go to Hoesik. This is the team-bonding dinner involving Korean BBQ and Soju.
The Myth: You have to drink until you pass out.
The Reality (2025): Things have improved! Forced drinking is now considered “Gapjil” (abuse of power). Many young workers drink cider or water. But the grilling of pork belly and the chanting of “Cheers!” (Geon-bae!) is still a vital part of office politics. It’s where the real conversations happen.
10:00 PM: The Release Finally, you are home. You wash off the city dust, put on a sheet mask (because skincare is life), and scroll through Instagram until you pass out. Ready to do it all again tomorrow?
Final Thoughts
Being a Korean office worker is intense. It’s fast-paced, competitive, and tiring. But there is also a strong sense of camaraderie (Jeong) among coworkers who survive the trenches together. So, if you ever land a job in Seoul, just remember: Buy the Iced Americano, bring your toothbrush, and master the art of the fake-typing stare. You’ll fit right in.