K-Job · Workplace · 2025
Korean Workplace Glossary 2025
직급·보고·회의·근태로 읽는 Korean Office Culture
If you work with a Korean company (or inside one), titles like daeri, gwajang, bujang
and words like 야근, 반차, 보고, 결재 will show up everywhere.
This EN-first glossary explains the core vocabulary and the culture behind it,
so you can survive real meetings, chats, and emails without feeling lost.
Note
This article focuses on language & culture, not labour law or HR policy.
Every company is different, and rules change over time.
실제 근로조건·계약·노무 관련 문제는 반드시 회사 HR 또는 전문가와 상담해야 합니다.
1. Big Picture · What a “Korean Office” Feels Like
In many Korean companies, three things shape the daily experience:
- Titles (직급) – how people call each other in meetings & chats
- Time & attendance (근태) – 출근, 퇴근, 연차, 반차, 야근
- Reporting & meetings (보고·회의) – who reports to whom, and how
Let’s walk through each area with EN explanations and key KR terms in brackets.
2. Titles & Hierarchy · 직급과 호칭
Korean offices love titles. Even if the official English on a business card says “Manager” or “Assistant Director”,
inside the company people usually call each other by Korean title + 님.
Common Titles · 기본 직급
Staff / Associate (KR: 사원)
entry-level office worker
New grads or early-career employees.
In speech, people say “김OO 사원님” or often just name + 님.
Assistant Manager (KR: 대리)
mid-junior, bridge between staff and manager
Often handles real work but still reports up to a manager.
Called “김 대리님” or “대리님” in the team.
Manager (KR: 과장)
team core, owns tasks and small projects
Many foreigners first meet Korean office culture through a gwajang.
과장 is often the person who manages schedules, juniors, and reports to the team leader.
Team Leaders & Executives
Senior Manager / Team Leader (KR: 차장, 부장)
senior managers & heads of teams
차장 is senior manager; 부장 is often team head.
In meetings, people say “부장님께 보고드리겠습니다.” – “We’ll report to the general manager.”
Director / Executive (KR: 이사, 상무, 전무, 본부장)
upper management
Titles vary by company size.
영어로는 Director, VP, Executive Director 등으로 번역하지만,
안에서는 그냥 “이사님”, “상무님”, “본부장님”이라고 부른다.
Culture Tip · Name vs Title
In many Western offices, “just call me John” is common.
In Korea, saying “김 부장님” or “OO님” feels more natural and respectful.
동료끼리도 직급 대신 “OO님”으로 통일하는 회사가 점점 늘고 있다.
3. Teams, Departments & Reporting Lines · 조직 구조와 보고 라인
Understanding who reports to whom is essential for surviving email chains and meetings.
3-1. Organization Words
Team (KR: 팀)
basic working unit
Example: Sales Team 1 (영업1팀), Strategy Team (전략팀).
Your direct manager is usually the team leader (팀장).
Department / Division (KR: 부서, 본부)
larger group above the team
Several teams form a 부서 or 본부.
Titles like 본부장 or 실장 often sit here.
3-2. Reporting & Approval
Report (KR: 보고)
upward communication
To “report” is not only a document – it’s a social act.
People say “팀장님께 보고 올리겠습니다.” – “I’ll submit a report to the team leader.”
Approval / Sign-off (KR: 결재)
formal approval process
Many companies use an e-approval system (전자결재).
You “올리다” a document so upper levels can review & approve.
4. Time, Attendance & Leave · 출근·퇴근·연차·야근
Time words appear in HR systems, Slack-style messengers, and daily small talk.
4-1. Daily Rhythm
Start / Leave Work (KR: 출근, 퇴근)
clocking in & out
People say “몇 시 출근이에요?” (What time do you start?)
and “오늘은 칼퇴했어요.” (I left exactly on time today).
Overtime (KR: 야근, 추가근무)
working late
야근 literally means “night work”.
Some companies now track overtime strictly; others still have a more “flexible” culture.
4-2. Vacation & Off Days
Paid Leave (KR: 연차)
annual leave days
People book 연차 for travel or personal matters.
You may hear: “그날은 연차라서 회의 참석이 어려울 것 같아요.”
Half-day Off (KR: 반차)
taking only morning or afternoon off
Morning off = 오전 반차, afternoon off = 오후 반차.
Useful for hospital visits, immigration office, etc.
Culture Tip · Using Leave
Many younger companies encourage using all your leave;
older or more traditional workplaces can be more conservative.
그래서 “연차 눈치 문화”라는 말도 있지만, 분위기는 점점 바뀌는 중이다.
5. Meetings, Emails & Chats · 회의·메일·메신저 문화
Once you join a Korean team, you’ll meet three channels every day: meetings, emails, and chat apps.
5-1. Meetings & Documents
Meeting (KR: 회의, 미팅)
formal & informal gatherings
회의 feels more formal; 미팅 can sound lighter or external-facing.
You might hear: “오늘 오후에 팀 회의 있어요.”
Minutes / Summary (KR: 회의록, 정리 메일)
what was decided
After a meeting, someone often sends a short summary:
“회의 내용 정리해서 메일로 공유드릴게요.”
5-2. Messenger & Tone
Company Messenger (KR: 사내 메신저)
Slack-like chat tools
Kakao Work, Slack, JANDI, Teams 등 다양한 툴을 쓰지만
공통점은 존댓말 + 빠른 반응이 기본이라는 것.
“Nunchi” (KR: 눈치)
reading the room
눈치는 사람의 기분·상황을 조용히 파악하는 감각.
In chats, this can mean choosing when to push, when to wait, and how strongly to phrase things.
6. Survival Phrases · 진짜 자주 쓰는 표현들
A few short sentences can make daily work much smoother.
EN is for understanding; KR is what you’ll actually say or see.
“I’ll share the updated file after the meeting.”
KR: “회의 끝나고 업데이트한 파일 공유드리겠습니다.”
Safe, polite line for most internal meetings.
“Could you please review this and give me feedback?”
KR: “검토해 보시고 피드백 부탁드립니다.”
Works in email or messenger when sending drafts to seniors or peers.
“I’ll be on half-day leave in the afternoon.”
KR: “오늘 오후에 반차라서 오후 일정은 참여가 어렵습니다.”
Simple way to set expectations for availability.
“If you have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime.”
KR: “궁금하신 점 있으면 언제든지 편하게 말씀 주세요.”
A friendly closing line for many emails and chats.
With this K-Job & Workplace Glossary, Korean titles, meetings, and leave words
become less mysterious and more like tools you can actually use in your daily work.
한국 회사 문화는 회사·산업·세대에 따라 계속 바뀌고 있습니다.
이 글을 시작점으로 삼고, 실제 동료들과 대화하면서
여러분만의 “K-Workplace 감각”을 만들어 보세요.
더 다양하고 재미있는 이야기들이 궁금하시다면, Coreanlab.com으로 놀러오세요.
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