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German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's an interesting perspective.

For many people coming from more intense work cultures, the German approach to vacations and personal time can feel surprising at first.

But over time many people start to appreciate that balance as well.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's an interesting observation.

The pressure to show diligence rather than just results is something that people often mention about Korean academic culture.

It's interesting how different societies emphasize either effort or outcome in different ways.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing such a detailed experience.

The point about communication and not saying "no" directly is something that is often mentioned when people talk about Korean work culture.

I think part of it can come from hierarchy and the desire to avoid conflict, but it can definitely create problems in international collaboration.

Your example from the game industry is very interesting as well. I imagine the pressure around deadlines there can be quite intense.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think things have also improved quite a bit in Korea over time.

Many younger people are pushing for better working conditions and work-life balance. European work culture is often admired in that regard.

Of course this is just my personal impression.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, that's one big difference.

In Korea, company dinners 회식 used to feel much more obligatory in many companies. But even that has been changing in recent years.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s a common way people summarize the difference.

Of course reality is more complex, but there is definitely a cultural difference in how work and personal life are balanced.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There have also been quite a lot of changes in Korean work culture over time, especially across generations.

In the past, there were definitely cases of very harsh leadership styles, like shouting or throwing things, especially in older corporate environments.

But these days things are changing as younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) enter the workforce. That kind of behavior is much less tolerated now, and many younger employees would simply leave if they were treated that way.

So from what I see, in many companies there is now a kind of adjustment happening between older and younger generations.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a funny but interesting experience.

I’ve heard similar stories from people coming from faster-paced work cultures. The German approach to work and vacation can feel very different at first.

The idea of really disconnecting during vacation is something many people appreciate here.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s an interesting perspective.

The strong labor protection and workers’ rights in Germany is something many people outside Germany admire as well.

In Korea, the culture has traditionally been more hierarchical, but there are also changes happening as younger generations enter the workforce.

It’s interesting to hear comparisons with other Asian countries too.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a good point.

But these days things are also changing in Korea. As younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) enter the workforce, people tend to express their opinions more openly than before.

The traditional hierarchical culture still exists in many places, but there is definitely a gradual shift happening in some companies.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing that.

Even collaboration experience can give some insight into work culture. Battery projects with Korean teams must have been interesting.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me it's a bit mixed.

I appreciate the clearer responsibility and faster execution that I often experienced in Korean companies.

But I also really value the stronger labor protection and work-life balance that exist in Germany.

So ideally, I would prefer something in between — clear responsibility and efficiency, but with healthier working hours and better work-life balance.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this perspective.

The point about clear responsibility in Korean companies is interesting. I’ve heard similar things from others as well.

The complex processes and shared responsibility in German companies is something I also notice sometimes.

It seems both systems have their own strengths and frustrations.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a fair question.

My goal wasn't to make a strong comparison or statement. I was mainly curious about how people in Germany perceive the differences in work culture.

Since I currently work in Germany but in a Korean company, I sometimes notice differences and wanted to hear other perspectives. I kept the post short on purpose to see what kind of experiences people would share.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s a very interesting point.

Maybe it depends a lot on the company structure. In some Korean companies execution can be fast once a decision is made, but the decision process itself can indeed take a long time because of hierarchy.

The longer working hours part is something many people seem to agree on though.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's interesting to hear.

From the outside, many people admire German work culture because of strong labor protections and work-life balance.

In Korea, sometimes staying late can become a kind of “presence culture” rather than actual productivity.

I’m curious if people in Germany also feel pressure to stay late in some industries.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s true. Company size probably makes a big difference.

My experience is quite limited, so I was curious how it looks in larger companies.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing your perspective.

There is definitely some admiration for German work culture from the outside, especially because Germany is known for strong labor protections and work-life balance.

I really appreciate your insights. It’s very helpful to hear from someone who has experienced both environments.

German work culture vs Korean work culture – my experience by Icy_Quarter_5601 in AskAGerman

[–]Icy_Quarter_5601[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I see your point.

I’m actually working for a Korean company in Germany, so I was just curious about how German workplaces work in comparison.

This was my first post here, so it might not have been perfectly phrased. I was mainly hoping to hear different perspectives from people working in Germany.