[WSJ] Korean Corporate Boot Camps: Alienating Workers, Costing Companies

August 22, 2014

 

(Yonhap photo)

(Yonhap photo)

[The Wall Street Journal] Soon after I joined a Korean company I knew I would leave within a year.

This sounds extreme but may resonate with others who have experienced the boot-camp style training new workers in Korea are faced with when entering a typical conglomerate. Known as “hapsook kyoyook,” it refers to a program to induct graduates.

In some ways it’s like a religious retreat, but instead of a religion, companies aim to instill with their corporate culture – their core values, way of working, expected standards and ethics. These boot camps usually occur in the first month after being hired and typically last from two to four weeks. [READ MORE]