“A 5-Minute Job Just Became a 2-Hour Meeting”
Hey everyone! So, a news headline has been making the rounds here in Seoul, and it’s so relatable it hurts: “What takes 5 minutes, takes 2 hours if the manager gets involved.” LOL, right? But it’s pointing to a super serious issue brewing in Korean workplaces. The article talks about how managers in their 50s, who are often “AI문맹” (AI mun-maeng), meaning AI illiterate, are unintentionally slowing everything down for their teams. One junior employee was quoted saying that a task that could be done in five minutes with a collaboration tool takes two hours when they have to do it their boss’s old-fashioned way. Ouch.
The Generational AI Divide is Real
So what’s the deal? Basically, you have a generation of young workers in their 20s and 30s who are super comfortable using AI tools like ChatGPT for everything from data analysis to writing emails. It’s all about speed and efficiency. But many of their bosses, the ‘bujangnim’ (department heads), are from an era before all this. They’re not familiar with the new tech and sometimes resist using it. This has led to younger team members seeing their once-respected seniors as “짐덩이” (jim-ddeong-i), which is a harsh word that means “dead weight” or a “burden.” It’s a huge shift in a country where respecting your elders and superiors is everything.
It’s All About ‘Chaemyeon’ (Saving Face)
You might be wondering, “Why don’t they just learn?” Well, it’s complicated because of Korean culture, specifically the concept of “체면” (chae-myeon), or ‘face’. It’s incredibly important to maintain your dignity and not look incompetent, especially when you’re in a high-ranking position. The article points out that many older managers are afraid to ask for help or admit they don’t know how to use a new program because they don’t want to lose face in front of their younger staff. Meanwhile, a survey showed that over half of the younger employees feel their older colleagues just pass off digital tasks to them. This leads to this silent frustration where nothing gets said, but everyone is annoyed.
A National Challenge
This isn’t just office gossip; it’s becoming a recognized national problem. Experts are calling it the “AI divide,” and it’s affecting the country’s overall productivity. The clash isn’t just about technology; it’s a conflict between two work philosophies: one that values experience and tenure, and a new one that prioritizes data, speed, and digital skills. The government and companies are starting to push for more AI literacy programs to close this gap. Hopefully, with a little more training and understanding, a five-minute job can finally just be a five-minute job again, no matter who’s in the room!
