What should foreign employees know about Korean work culture before starting a job at a Korean company?

Korean work culture has shifted significantly toward Western norms in tech and startups but remains traditionally hierarchical in conglomerates (재벌) and older industries. The starting points to know about are hierarchy expressed through honorific language and titles, with everyone called by job title (부장님, 과장님, 대리님) rather than first name. Show up 10 to 15 minutes early to meetings, and let seniors enter elevators and rooms first. Email and chat use polite language even for routine messages.

Hoesik (회식 company dinners) remain important for team bonding, especially in large companies. They can run late with drinking culture (술자리), though refusing or moderating is increasingly accepted, especially in Gen Z teams. Pour drinks for seniors with both hands, turn your head when drinking with elders, and never pour your own drink. Annual leave is technically yours but in some workplaces using all 15 days is socially discouraged, so observe what colleagues do. Overtime culture (야근) is improving with the 52-hour workweek law, but project deadlines can still mean late nights. Decision-making is consensus-driven through 보고 (reports up the chain), so even simple changes need approval cycles. Direct disagreement with seniors in front of others is taboo, so save concerns for one-on-one conversations or use 죄송하지만 (sorry but) softeners. Tech companies like Naver, Kakao, and startups in Pangyo and Seongsu are far more casual and flat. Chat openly with your Korean coworkers about expectations during your first weeks.