Samsung forbids employees from drinking after 9pm
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To a Westerner this might seem like an innocent ritual that will indeed strengthen the team, but in an environment where denying a drink might mean a bad performance review the next day, ‘hoesik’ starts looking less naive.
Starting with beer often mixed with soju, the local rice-based liquor, the dinner continues with whiskey and so on.
“At my first hoesik, we started out with everyone filling a beer glass with soju, and downing it on the spot. That was just the beginning," a Korean American shared his first shocking corporate dinner experience for CNN.
Hoesik is not a simple dinner, though. You have to adhere to local customs, not drinking before seniors and holding cups and bottle with two hands. And most importantly - not saying no to offered drinks. The Koreans even have separate words: ‘beolju’ for forcing drinks on others, and ‘sabalju’ for mixing up beverages.
The weirdness does not end here. Often times, wannabe employees would have to fill up a document when applying for a job, saying how much of the soju drink they can take during hoesik while remaining fit for conversation.
Now, with this ample introduction to Korean customs, you can probably better understand why Samsung wants to limit the ritual for its employees. The company is trying to fight this alcoholism that turns off new hires with a new strict rule, the 1-1-9.
The first ‘1’ stands for one sitting as opposed to bar hopping, the second ‘1’ means only one type of alcohol allowed rather than mixing drinks, and the ‘9’ is for 9pm, the time when it should be all over. Not a bad start, is it?
source: Wall Street Journal, CNN
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29 Comments
5. Droid_X_Doug posted on 29 Nov 2012, 09:09 12 6
Drinking does have its downside. Especially if it is compulsory. Props to Sammy.
7. thelegend6657 posted on 29 Nov 2012, 09:12 3 10
But it limits our freedom . Sure drinking is bad , but we are adults that can take care of ourselves. So this is a bad move
8. Nathan_ingx posted on 29 Nov 2012, 09:21 7 0
Contrary to you comment, no one is sane when drunk... And when one drinks...they probably get drunk!! Except for people who have few controlled occasional drinks.
13. Commentator posted on 29 Nov 2012, 11:32 2 1
But when, as the article says, turning down a drink might result in a bad performance review, how free are the employees anyways? From what it sounds like, it's either drink or risk losing your job.
16. Reluctant_Human posted on 29 Nov 2012, 12:40 1 0
Again I ask. How is this a bad thing unless you have to buy the rounds?
28. Commentator posted on 30 Nov 2012, 15:27 0 0
It increases the possibility of chemical dependance on alcohol, as well as the risk of harm to self and others, especially if the drinker has a low tolerance.
(Forgive the lateness of my reply.)
23. thelegend6657 posted on 29 Nov 2012, 18:13 1 2
Its asian culture , dude , i'm asian
29. Commentator posted on 30 Nov 2012, 15:30 0 0
Just because its Asian culture doesn't mean it's necessarily right. Lord knows there's a lot wrong with American culture.
(Forgive the lateness of my reply.)
14. darkkjedii posted on 29 Nov 2012, 11:59 4 1
How could this possibly b a bad move?
24. thelegend6657 posted on 29 Nov 2012, 18:14 0 1
Limits employees freedom . People should be given freedom to do something as long as its not illegal
17. spookytj posted on 29 Nov 2012, 12:50 4 0
I imagine that Samsung wanted to leave that custom alone...but if their employees can't regulate themselves and their job performance suffers then they need to step in.
10. Reluctant_Human posted on 29 Nov 2012, 09:39 2 7
Drinking has no downside. Its makes lame people awesome and gets ugly people laid. Don't listen to Droid's lies!
6. Nathan_ingx posted on 29 Nov 2012, 09:12 1 0
If anyone is going to Korea planning to be a part of a big company, prepare to be wild drinkers!!
And if you are thinking of being a part of Samsung...learn to control the wild drinking habit first! :D
2. Aeires (unregistered) posted on 29 Nov 2012, 08:46 6 0
Different cultures makes the world a more interesting place.
I lived in Japan for two years, they have some interesting cultural nuances like this as well. And I'm sure they look at some western culture as 'weird' to some degrees also. Don't think so, watch "Only In America" by Larry the Cable Guy.
9. Reluctant_Human posted on 29 Nov 2012, 09:37 2 0
I'd commit seppuku before ending that awesome tradition. My company parties suck. I'm moving to Korea and but working for Samsung.
11. ilia1986 posted on 29 Nov 2012, 10:10 5 1
And you thought that Gangnam Style was weird.. :P
12. DiegoMarques posted on 29 Nov 2012, 10:44 0 0
In the day after that costume, the productivity should be close to nothing for those that are adepts of the binge ;)
Unfortunately, I don`t live in Korea =(
15. osmaankhaan posted on 29 Nov 2012, 12:30 2 0
i support samsung for this cause since there should b a limit to everything otherwise it will surely effect one's work
good work 1-1-9 (since 9-1-1 has copy right issues i believe..lol)
21. 1ceTr0n posted on 29 Nov 2012, 16:09 1 0
As being from a family of alcoholics, I should probably follow this rule as a general principle
26. networkdood posted on 29 Nov 2012, 20:32 0 0
If you do not like the policies of a company - then go work for someone else...
27. InspectorGadget80 posted on 29 Nov 2012, 21:07 0 0
Um why after 9pm? Don't these guys go home after 9 or something plus if their at home and or off for the day don't they get to drink? and what does this have to do with phones for?
