#INTRO

A few days ago, I found myself wondering what I should write about for this month's column. Ever since I started this series, I have wanted to share the little cultural differences I experience while living and working in Korea. But this time, I simply couldn't decide what to write about. As I sat there thinking during lunch with my colleagues, looking around the table, the answer suddenly felt incredibly obvious—it had been right in front of me the whole time. Food. Or more specifically, the culture surrounding food in a Korean workplace.

Who knew something as simple as food could have so much culture surrounding it? The more I experienced everyday life at work, the more I realized that meals here are about much more than just eating. It amazed me how something so ordinary could reveal so much about the people and culture around it, and I found that absolutely fascinating. So today, I thought I would share some of the food-related traditions and little moments that have made working in Korea such a unique experience for me.

1. Lunch is More than Just Lunch

One of the first workplace differences I noticed after coming to Amorepacific was the lunch culture. Back home in India, it is very common for employees to bring homemade lunches to work, especially if there isn't a company cafeteria. Lunchboxes filled with home-cooked food are everywhere, and sharing a bite or two with colleagues is almost a tradition in itself.

However, once I started working at Amorepacific, I quickly noticed that lunchtime is a bit different. Almost no one actually brings lunch from home, and people usually head out together to nearby restaurants or gather at the company cafeteria. Our cafeteria, in particular, deserves a special mention in this column — because I have genuinely grown to love it.

What surprises me the most is the variety available every single day. Instead of just one standard meal, there are different menus designed for different lifestyles and preferences—a balanced meal, a low-sodium option, a high- protein meal, and of course the regular menu, which often features fun Korean-Western fusion dishes that I always look forward to trying. To me, it reflects just how much importance people in Korea place on health and well-being in their everyday lives. I never thought I'd become someone who checks the cafeteria menu every morning with genuine excitement. But as they say, never say never—because somehow, that's exactly what I do now.

But lunch isn't really over once everyone has finished eating. There seems to be an unspoken rule that the meal isn't complete until everyone has grabbed a cup of coffee! In India, the closest comparison would probably be having a cup of tea with colleagues. But even then, it is usually something people do whenever they feel like it. Here, the post-lunch coffee run feels like a daily ritual—an extra few minutes to chat, recharge, and ease back into work.

One thing that still makes me smile is Korea's famous 아아(iced Americano) culture. No matter the season, you'll almost always spot people walking around with an iced Americano in hand—even in the middle of winter. At first, I couldn't wrap my head around it. But then I realized that we're probably no different. After all, we Indians happily drink piping hot chai even when it's 40°C outside! It's one of those little workplace traditions that has become a familiar part of everyday life in Korea.

2. Beyond the Office Walls: 회식 Culture

Whenever I tell my friends back home about the concept of 회식(team dinners) here in Korea, their response is almost always the same: "I wish my company did that too!"

It's easy to see why. While company dinners certainly exist in India, they're usually annual events or reserved for special occasions. In Korea, however, they take place much more frequently, giving colleagues regular opportunities to spend time together outside the office. Whether it's with your own team or even an entire division, 회식 is a chance to step away from meetings, deadlines, and emails and simply enjoy good food together.

What I enjoy most is how naturally it helps build stronger relationships with colleagues. You end up talking about everything from weekend plans and travel stories to your favorite restaurants or hobbies—conversations that might never come up during a regular workday. Somehow, everyone feels a little more relaxed, and it's a great way to get to know the people you work with beyond their job titles.

What completely fascinated me when I first came to Korea was how much people love sticking around in small groups to keep talking. Even after the official work dinner wraps up, whoever clicks well or has the time will stay behind to keep the conversation going. That's often when the more honest, heartfelt conversations happen, and I found this custom really fascinating. People just keep laughing and chatting, soaking up so much time together with their colleagues.

Of course, every 회식 has its own atmosphere, and every team has its own traditions. But what has stayed with me the most is how these gatherings create a space to bond, relax, and enjoy one another's company outside of work.

Looking back, I never expected food to teach me so much about Korean workplace culture. Whether it's lunch, a coffee break, or a 회식 after work, food somehow becomes the excuse—but people are always the reason.