Concerns about overworking are especially acute in South Korea. This country has a well-known workaholic culture that puts in long hours and high expectations. Its rapid economic growth was aided by its strong educational system.
The average South Korean worker works 1,915 hours per annum, ranking fifth among all nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. According to OECD data, Americans average 1,791 hours per year, while Americans average 1,490 hours in France, and 1,349 in Germany.
South Korean workers describe a culture that requires overtime, where workers are required to attend mandatory after-work drinks and dinners, and where employees feel the need to stay in the office until their boss leaves, regardless of whether or not they have completed their tasks.
Concerns about public health have also been raised by workaholism in South Korea. The country has the highest suicide rates of all developed countries in OECD. This is in addition to its role in the country’s current demographic crisis. South Korea’s 0.78 fertility rate is the lowest in the world, which means there are more deaths than births.
Cho Hee-kyung, a Hongik University College of Law professor, stated that “fewer and fewer women want children because they know that having a child means the end of their careers.” “The long work hours make it difficult for fathers to be involved in child rearing.
Many Koreans find it so tiring that they turn to “nap cafés,” which have opened up in offices. These cafes offer workers the opportunity to unwind in quiet, dark rooms with massage chairs and a place to rest their tired eyes.
Ahn Saehee, a Korean entrepreneur, was busy at one of his four jobs: checking in customers at Mr. Healing Sleep Cafe. He founded the business and says it is growing well. All slots are booked and there is a waiting list for nappers during lunch. Ahn stated that the cafe was only half full despite it being Saturday. This is a sign of a culture of excessive work.
Ahn predicted that more nap cafes would be established, saying, “Workers, except they work for large conglomerates, don’t have places in their workplaces where they can rest.”
However, it is becoming a sign that there is a growing generational gap. South Korea’s MZ Generation has been vocal in its opposition to workaholism. This acronym, which is a local acronym, groups together millennials with Generation Z, the group now in their 20s to 30s, and makes up around a third of South Korea’s more than 51 million people.
Cho stated, “Even if it’s not a secure job, if someone is able to pursue something that ignites his passion, they will do that.” It is difficult for the older generation to grasp.
Yoon, who was unable to ignore the public outcry, used Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting to reverse course on the 69-hour limit. He stated that his views had changed and that he now considers anything more than 60 hours to be unhealthy. Yoon stated that his administration would rethink its proposal and pay attention to the concerns of young South Koreans.
Hwang Joonpyo, a young man from Gangnam was getting ready to start his shift at the turntables as the sun set on Seoul’s Han River. When asked if he would ever fulfill his father’s wish for him to join the family company, he replied that he hadn’t ruled it out.
Hwang stated, “Laterly, I’ve been thinking a lot about it.” “But for the moment, I want more focus on my work. When I have time to rest or am free, I will think about the future and how I intend to live my life.
Stella Kim and Jimin Le contributed to this article.
