KKUL-ALBAKorean Work Culture Explained
Learn useful Korean workplace terms for part-time jobs, hourly pay, night shifts, handovers and team dinners.
From a job listing to your first shift
| Korean term | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 알바(alba) | Part-time job | 주말 알바를 구해요. (Jumal albareul guhaeyo.) I’m looking for weekend work. |
| 시급(sigeup) | Hourly pay | 시급이 얼마예요? (Sigeubi eolmayeyo?) What’s the hourly rate? |
| 야간근무(yagan geunmu) | Night shift or night work | 오늘은 야간근무예요. (Oneureun yagan geunmuyeyo.) I’m on the night shift today. |
| 인수인계(insu ingye) | Handover between staff | 인수인계 먼저 할게요. (Insu ingye meonjeo halgeyo.) I’ll do the handover first. |
| 회식(hoesik) | A meal or gathering with coworkers | 오늘 회식 있어요? (Oneul hoesik isseoyo?) Is there a team dinner today? |
How to address a coworker
Listen to how coworkers address each other. You may hear 팀장님 (timjangnim) for a team lead or 사장님 (sajangnim) for a business owner. Some workplaces use first names or English names. When you are unsure, 어떻게 부르면 될까요? (Eotteoke bureumyeon doelkkayo?) is a polite way to ask what someone prefers to be called.
Three useful questions for a shift
- 몇 시부터 몇 시까지예요? (Myeot sibuteo myeot sikkajiyeyo?) — What time does the shift start and finish?
- 휴게 시간은 언제예요? (Hyuge siganeun eonjeyeyo?) — When is the break?
- 오늘 제가 먼저 할 일이 뭐예요? (Oneul jega meonjeo hal iri mwoyeyo?) — What should I do first today?
In a drama, a single word such as 시급 (sigeup) may signal why someone takes a job. In everyday conversation, pairing it with questions about hours and duties gives you a fuller picture of a shift.