Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

Yes, you heard it, Sunday is considered the once a week holiday in Korea. My Korean friends tell me that the reason for such few holidays and work days off is that Sunday is a holiday, that is, a day off from work once a week.

Sunday is a red day on the Korean calender so this makes sense, but I always thought of Sunday as a given right, unless working in a store, hotel, or restaurant. Well, it's an interesting different perspective than what I came with, but I still don't buy it as being a holiday as everyone needs that one day off while I see many working 7 days a week in businesses. I recognize the same people everyday in the places I go so many don't even take Sunday off. Taking such few days off to work all the time has to do with the instilled national pride of working to add value to Korea as a whole and for strong image. This took me some time to understand as I don't work to increase the value of my country nor Korea, I work to increase my critically needed personal value that allows bills to be paid and savings to add up for future use. I didn't understand this for a while since I feel you need time off to be your own individual person which is a very western idea that is coming of age in Korean culture as my Korean friends say that many Korean people today are very sad about the lack of holidays. Traditionally it was work 7 days a week for strong image, your family, and the good of your country in a utilitarian manner.

And capitalism changes it all were traditional ways don't work...

[Major Kong]

It was just a few years ago when the 5 day work week(on official paper, anyway) became the norm for most middle class Koreans. I then saw a mass exodus from the cities on Friday evenings. The countryside and beaches on weekends became ever so popular and crowded like never before in 2004. I anticipate the Korean version of "Winnebagos" any time now.

[Ilsanman]

The 5 day work week was opposed at the beginning. A lot of fathers don't really know what to do with their children, so they just take them out for ice cream, an amusement park, or something like that. Then they spend a lot of money. They said they'd rather work.