By Nam Hyun-woo
With the acceleration of Korea's COVID-19 vaccination drive raising hopes for a return to "normal" life, there are some things that young Koreans don't want to see come back, particularly related to work culture.
One of these aspects is required after-work dinners, or "hoesik" in Korean, which often involve binge-drinking.
According to a recent poll by JobKorea, 87 percent of the total 1,424 employed respondents said they believe they will be able to return to normal life once herd immunity is achieved in the country. However, when asked what changes they want to see remain after the pandemic, their answers differed by generation.
Among the respondents, 44.9 percent of those in their 20s and 30s said that they want both their companies and colleagues to refrain from holding after-work get-togethers even after the pandemic.
When multiple answers were allowed, 44.1 percent of this age group also said they want to continue refraining from after-work binge-drinking, 32.7 percent wanted a work culture that continues to allow sick people to skip work; and 30.1 percent want work-from-home policies to continue.
As part of the social distancing guidelines, the government has been limiting the operating hours of bars, restaurants and other facilities for gatherings, particularly in the capital area. This rule has resulted in people putting off or reducing company gatherings, as well as ending after-work dinners when establishments close at 10 p.m.
"The atmosphere in which everyone is required to attend after-work hoesik or workshops, which often come with binge drinking, has made company life really uncomfortable for me," said Shin Hae-rin, 29, an office worker in central Seoul. "Due to the pandemic, I was able to spend evenings by myself, and I hope this practice continues even after the pandemic ends."
Among respondents in their 40s and 50s, only 31.7 percent wanted their companies or colleagues to continue refraining from holding after-work hoesik or workshops. Regarding the practice of working from home, 22.4 percent of this age group said they wanted it to continue.
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One of these aspects is required after-work dinners, or "hoesik" in Korean, which often involve binge-drinking.
According to a recent poll by JobKorea, 87 percent of the total 1,424 employed respondents said they believe they will be able to return to normal life once herd immunity is achieved in the country. However, when asked what changes they want to see remain after the pandemic, their answers differed by generation.
Among the respondents, 44.9 percent of those in their 20s and 30s said that they want both their companies and colleagues to refrain from holding after-work get-togethers even after the pandemic.
When multiple answers were allowed, 44.1 percent of this age group also said they want to continue refraining from after-work binge-drinking, 32.7 percent wanted a work culture that continues to allow sick people to skip work; and 30.1 percent want work-from-home policies to continue.
As part of the social distancing guidelines, the government has been limiting the operating hours of bars, restaurants and other facilities for gatherings, particularly in the capital area. This rule has resulted in people putting off or reducing company gatherings, as well as ending after-work dinners when establishments close at 10 p.m.
"The atmosphere in which everyone is required to attend after-work hoesik or workshops, which often come with binge drinking, has made company life really uncomfortable for me," said Shin Hae-rin, 29, an office worker in central Seoul. "Due to the pandemic, I was able to spend evenings by myself, and I hope this practice continues even after the pandemic ends."
Among respondents in their 40s and 50s, only 31.7 percent wanted their companies or colleagues to continue refraining from holding after-work hoesik or workshops. Regarding the practice of working from home, 22.4 percent of this age group said they wanted it to continue.
