The Changing Korean Workplace: Mindset and Expectations

The Korean workplace reflects the dynamic of South Korea's economy and society. Moreover, one finds it reflecting changing norms, many of which are generational. Chosun Ilbo published this survey. Significantly, the survey provides insights into the mindset for those new to the workplace. SK is one of Korea's top conglomerates.


According to the results released Monday of a survey of 427 new employees by SK Group, new workers on their first job say that personal relations are more important than job performance to success in the workplace. Personal relations was named as the most important skill by 37 percent of the new employees surveyed, followed by performance at 30 percent, sincerity at 27 percent and information collecting skills and savoir vivre at 3 percent.

Some 40 percent of the surveyed employees preferred visionary bosses who share their goals and dreams, and another 40 percent preferred bosses who value good relations and emphasize team harmony. The next favorite bosses were analytic ones who can create alternatives (13 percent) and bosses with clear targets and directions on reaching them (7 percent). The leadership styles the new employees prefer for themselves, however, were bosses valuing good relations (58 percent), analytic bosses (24 percent), and bosses with vision (13 percent).

Foreign languages skills (64 percent) was by far the area most often mentioned needing improvement, followed by job-related skills (17 percent), certifications (16 percent), and culture and hobbies (3 percent). The new employees value family life (36 percent), health (27 percent), work (25 percent), leisure time (9 percent), and wealth (3 percent) for a happy life.