Inside Korean Work Culture

Working abroad is a big challenge itself, moreover working in a complete different Eastern culture can be even more complex.
In order to fit and adapt to the working concept in South Korea better and faster, here is some tips.

• First of all, remember that work ethic in South Korea is very strong and followed by all employees, this includes that socialising during work time is not welcomed. However,  employees often go for a lunch brake or company dinner together and get to know each other better there. 

• Secondly, be prepared to overwork and take extra working hours or shifts, it is absolutely normal and expected in South Korea. Because, being a very hard-working nation themselves, Koreans do not appreciate laziness and sloth, you will notice that everyone will put a lot effort to make a work done and even will do something extra. So, the same attitude is expected from you as well.

• Another thing would be salaries, the hourly minimum wage in effect for 2012 is ￦4,580 (which is about $4.2). Which is not a lot, but a trilateral council of government, labor and management representatives agreed to raise South Korea’s minimum wage for next year (2014) by 7.2 percent to 5,210 won (US$4.57) per hour. 

• Of course talking about working culture, we can not mention the holidays and vacation times. South Korea employees are entitled to 15-day paid vacation and an additional day for each two years of service (maximum of 25 days).
• Koreans use both Solar and Lunar calendars which results in a number of holidays. There are 16 national holidays and most of them are observed by the majority of offices and businesses.

January 1: New Year's Day
First day of the first lunar month (February 9-11 2013): Lunar New Year’s Day (Seollal)
March 1: Independence Movement Day
May 1: Labor day (Not an official day off, but banks and most businesses are closed)
May 8: Parents day (not a day off and business are open as usual)
May 5: Children's Day
Eighth day of the fourth lunar month (May 17 2013): Buddha's Birthday (Seokka Tanshin-il)
June 6: Memorial Day
July 17: Constitution Day (a national celebration day, but not a day off)
August 15: Liberation Day
15th day of the eighth lunar month (September 18-20 2013): Harvest Moon Festival (Chuesok)
October 3: Foundation Day
October 9: Hangul Day
December 25: Christmas Day
December 31-January 2: New Year's (Seol-nal)