Current Time in Seoul
Korean culture of time
Korean culture of time
Ultra-fast internet culture
Korea boasts the world's fastest internet speed, and everything is done at high speed. Speed is so important that a one-second delay in loading a web page can cause a sharp increase in the dropout rate.
24-hour business culture
Many stores, cafes, and even hospitals are open 24 hours a day, so you can shop and eat even late at night. Nocturnal lifestyles have become established, especially among young people.
Baribari (빨리빨빨) culture
The word "baribari," which means "fast, fast," is used daily, and extreme importance is placed on the speed of service and work. The time between ordering and receiving food at a restaurant is abnormally short.
Korean values of time
Efficiency over punctuality
Punctuality is not as important as in Japan, but efficiency and speed of work are given top priority. Meetings are valued for finishing earlier than scheduled.
A culture that values late-night work
Long working hours are common, so much so that people are called "corporate slaves." In many workplaces, it is tacitly understood that new employees, especially, should work until the last train.
A consumer culture that seeks immediacy
Food ordered through a delivery app usually arrives within 10 minutes. Online shopping is also common for same-day delivery, and people tend to hate waiting.
Things foreigners should know about time when traveling or relocating to Korea
Banks and government offices have short business hours
Most banks close by 4 p.m., and government offices by 6 p.m. It is essential to make use of online services.
Irregular business hours of restaurants
Few restaurants serve breakfast, and many open from 12 p.m. Conversely, many restaurants are open until 2 a.m.
The difference between weekends and weekdays is huge
Downtowns that are busy until late at night on weekdays are often quiet in the morning on weekends. Many stores are closed on Sundays.
Interesting trivia about time in Korea
The 24-hour culture of PCbang
Internet cafes, known as PCbang, are generally open 24 hours a day, and are bustling with young people even late at night. Many people use them as a substitute for lodging.
Strict adherence to express bus departure times
Express bus departure times are managed down to the second, and even being one minute late means you'll miss the bus. Conversely, some delays in arrival times are acceptable.
The timer function of the kimchi refrigerator
Korean household kimchi refrigerators have a timer function that manages the fermentation time, and time management is thorough when making kimchi.