What Kdrama tells you about Korean workplace culture, and are they true?

Korean workplace culture is vastly different from that of Britain, and these differences are depicted in Korean dramas. Many Korean dramas criticise or satirise workplace culture to resonate with Korean workers, and there are numerous romantic dramas set in office environments. While some aspects may be exaggerated, these dramas often realistically portray characteristics of Korean workplaces, such as excessive workloads and long lunch breaks. Let us take a look at some of the popular Korean dramas and see how true it is in real life.

1. Misaeng (미생)

Misaeng is a 2014 Korean drama that follows the story of Jang Gre, an inexperienced employee navigating the challenges of corporate life. It offers a realistic portrayal of South Korean workplace culture, including excessive overtime, company drinking cultures, and hierarchical relationships.

Overwork (Overtime)
- In the show, there are scenes where the main character stays at work late at night and works with several lamps turned on. Overtime often plays an important role in Korean workplaces. In traditional Korean workplaces, employees are sometimes forced to work overtime regardless of their work schedule. In addition, employees who work overtime are sometimes viewed as hardworking and praised. This shows the other side of Korea, which is often considered a ‘country where the lights don’t go out 24 hours a day’. Given South Korea’s ranking as one of the countries with the most working hours in the OECD and the growing concern over overwork-related deaths, there has been a notable shift towards reducing excessive overtime, emphasising the importance of work-life balance in corporate environments.
Company Drinking Culture
- In Korea, it is not uncommon for employees to have a ‘drinking party’ together after work to strengthen organisational skills and loyalty, or to relieve stress and celebrate the company’s achievements. You usually go to a restaurant or bar, and although many companies have recently become more respectful of individual circumstances, it is often considered rude to refuse alcohol for any reason when your boss offers you a drink at a company dinner. Many people see company dinners as a good opportunity to relieve work stress and get closer to their boss, but some consider dinner parties to be a type of work.

Hierarchical relationship
- How important do you think the UK workplace values hierarchical relationships? Although a free atmosphere in the workplace is a trend these days, the hierarchical relationship is clear in Korea, and the use of honorific titles and respectful language based on rank is common. Respecting the opinions of superiors and following orders are highly valued as well. In the show Misaeng, Deputy Director Oh Sangsik constantly nags and pressures Assistant Manager Won Wonseok, and shows how he tries to use his subordinates as his tools. Some people argue that it is a good culture because the work progresses quickly if the boss is authoritative the people of low authority follow the boss, but some people argue that this work culture in Korea needs to change because they cannot speak their opinions freely and sometimes have to endure excessive demands from their bosses.

2. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (김비서가 왜 그럴까?)

‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ is a 2018 South Korean romantic comedy that follows the story of a narcissistic chaebol heir and his long-time secretary. The drama satirises the chaebol culture by depicting the arrogant and self-centred nature of the wealthy heir, while also highlighting the power dynamics and expectations placed on employees within these large conglomerates.

Chaebol (재벌)
- ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ is a South Korean drama that offers a glimpse into the lives of Korea’s chaebol (재벌), a large family-owned conglomerate. The series highlights the extravagant lifestyles, immense power, and often arrogant attitudes associated with chaebol heirs. The drama satirises the chaebol culture by portraying a wealthy, narcissistic CEO who expects his employees, particularly his long-time secretary, to cater to his every whim. This portrayal is exaggerated for comedic effect but reflects common stereotypes about chaebol and their influence on Korean society.

3. Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰)

Released in 2020, Itaewon Class is a South Korean drama that follows the life of a young entrepreneur seeking revenge against a food conglomerate. Set in the multicultural district of Itaewon, the series explores themes of social injustice, youth, and the pursuit of dreams. Itaewon, known for its diverse population and vibrant nightlife, serves as the backdrop for the protagonist’s journey as he opens a small bar and challenges the powerful.

Chaebol (재벌)
- Itaewon Class also shows the chaebol culture, but it is slightly different from ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ While What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim shows the authoritarian and arrogant behaviour of chaebols at work, such as taking a helicopter to work or having their secretaries take care of personal matters, Itaewon Class depicts the harsh reality faced by people from low socioeconomic backgrounds and systemic barriers to social mobility. In Itaewon Class, Park Saeroi plans to avenge his father’s death by fighting the CEO of a powerful company. Park Saeroi’s difficult journey against a powerful conglomerate takes him to be expelled from school and imprisoned.

4. Answer me 1988 (응답하라 1988)

Reply 1988 is a South Korean television series that aired in 2015. It’s part of the popular “Reply” series, known for its nostalgic and heartwarming storytelling. Set in the year 1988 in the Ssangmundong neighbourhood of Seoul, the drama follows the lives of five close friends and their families. The series showcases the prevalent belief in the past in Korea that one should work for the same company for their entire career.

Lifetime employment culture
- Nowadays, such perception is decreasing, but in the past, such as in the 1980s in Korea, there was a strong perception that to have a stable life, one had to work a job for the rest of one’s life that paid a stable salary even if one did not enjoy it. It is also meant to support the family, and it also shows the past being more family-centred than the individual-centred present. In the show, a scene in which Jeongbong’s father worries about what he will do in the future ahead of retirement from the job he has worked for his entire life shows such Korean work culture. Perhaps because this perception persists, getting fired from a Korean workplace is less common than in the UK. Restructuring is also not as frequent as in UK workplaces, so Korean workplaces tend to be more stable.

5. Hospital Playlist (슬기로운 의사생활)

Hospital Playlist is a heartwarming South Korean television series that aired in 2020 and 2021. It follows the lives of five doctors who have been friends since medical school. The drama takes place in a university hospital where they work together, balancing their demanding careers with their personal lives and enduring friendships. In this show, there are a lot of scenes set in the company canteen, which is because Korean companies and employees place great importance on lunch.

Long lunch break, quality lunch
It is already widely known that Koreans value ‘meal’. In the show, the main characters are often in the canteen on the premises, and in particular, there is a scene where Jun-wan becomes a canteen employee and distributes more sausage side dishes to lower-position hospital employees, and higher-position employees get annoyed by it, which makes viewers laugh. Just like this, Korean workplaces often provide high-quality free lunches to employees as a benefit, and lunch breaks are also much longer than in the UK, lasting an hour or more.

K-dramas often spotlight South Korea’s traditional workplace culture, highlighting rigid hierarchies, seniority-based respect, and intense office dynamics. While these elements are rooted in reality, the dramas amplify them for dramatic effect, with exaggerated conflicts and office politics. As South Korea’s workplace culture slowly shifting to prioritise inclusivity and work-life balance, modern realities may diverge from the traditional depictions often seen on-screen.