Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
HD Hyundai's new headquarters provides glimpse into office of future
An aerial view of HD Hyundai's Global R&D Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of HD Hyundai
By Jung Da-hyun
By Jung Da-hyun
HD Hyundai's new headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, resembles a futuristic city straight out of a science fiction film, with a greater focus on offering a convenient, eco-friendly workplace environment.
HD Hyundai's Global R&D Center (GRC) can be described with three words: cube, grid and void. First, the exterior of the building takes the shape of a cube, which has now become a signature pattern for HD Hyundai Group. This cube symbolizes the unity of the group's 17 affiliated companies, displaying a vibrant mix of colors at the headquarters.
The 20-story cube-shaped structure is surrounded by plaid columns, made of steel, which reflect well HD Hyundai's image. The main point of this unique building, known as the grid, is that the pillars are located outside. This not only maximizes the interior space but also minimizes light reflection ― an essential consideration given the presence of an apartment complex across the street from the building.
Internal structure of HD Hyundai's Global R&D Center / Courtesy of HD Hyundai
Upon entering the building and ascending to the fourth floor, one is greeted by a vast and open space. This structural design element, called the void, serves not only as a shelter for employees but also as a venue for cultural events. The television show “Begin Again,” where musicians perform concerts before a studio audience, was also filmed in this place in March.
The top of the void is covered with transparent glass windows, allowing natural light to illuminate the entire building ― an environmentally conscious feature. While the building's design focuses on promoting eco-friendliness, the office's facilities and systems are centralized to provide an optimal working environment.
A kiosk through which employees can reserve seats or meeting rooms / Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun
HD Hyundai strives to provide a differentiated workplace experience compared to conventional office settings, embracing the concept of a smart workplace.
Through the HR Hyundai GRC mobile app, workers have the freedom to choose their preferred seats. While 40 percent of the employees have designated seats, others can select their workspace from different sections allocated to each department.
Workers take a break together at the in-house canteen. Courtesy of HD Hyundai
“Employees are highly satisfied with the canteens and cafeteria,” said Sohn Ji-won, a senior PR manager at HD Hyundai. Canteens are conveniently located on each floor, where workers can enjoy coffee and snacks.
The cafeteria offers a wide variety of menu items, catered by Hyundai Green Food and Shinsegae. Additionally, employees have the option to order convenient pre-packaged food, such as salad, a day in advance. Three meals per day are provided to all employees.
Within the office building, there is also a kindergarten and a gym. The daycare center currently accommodates 148 children, with a maximum capacity of 300. The gym serves as a facility promoting employees' well-being. Around 10 people were using the gym right after the lunch break started, when the Korea Times visited the premises, Wednesday.
“We designed and built the GRC as an eco-friendly office building to become a future-oriented company capable of thriving for the next 100 years,” Sohn said.