Plan Now for 2026: Navigating Year-End Differences in Korean Business Culture

Don't Wait Until January: Why Your Korea Strategy Needs Attention Now.

Getting Ahead in 2026: Leveraging Korea's Year-End Work Cycle

 

Overseas Korean companies’ teams indeed go into holiday mode, plants close for routine annual end-of-year maintenance, offices shut down, and employees take vacations.

 

In Korea, we observe restructuring, end-of-year team meetings, annual reports to Leadership, and some members taking on new assignments.

 

That said, we should be aware that most Korean expats still go to work every day…

 

In fact, I recall meeting with senior leadership on December 31, the HQ parking lot and building halls were empty, except for the Korean CEO and most of the expats. 

 

Moreover, throughout the morning, newly assigned Korean expats came to the CEO’s office to introduce themselves, and colleagues joined them.

 

My advice is to establish a strategy “now,” so we can get a jumpstart for early 2026--the Korean teams will be ready.     

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