The worldwide dominant LG company logo at its headquarters in Seoul, Korea. Photo credit: Korea Times.
Job titles are of high importance in the Republic of Korea. Korean companies are well-known for their hierarchy and structure. The typical job titles progress essentially reflecting a very hierarchical structure where titles symbolizes seniority and power within the company. Employees typically address each other by their titles with respect rather than first names. A person's title often indicates their level of responsibility and decision-making authority within the organization.
Learning about job titles is crucial if you plan to work in Korea. It is essential to familiarize yourself with Korean corporate titles. For someone who does not have any insight into the Korean language, Korean corporate titles can be daunting. If you would like to address your Korean co-workers or business partners appropriately, remember to add “-nim” as a suffix to every Korean title. This suffix added to Korean words indicates politeness and respect.
If you cannot remember the correct job title for one of your co-workers, you can refer to those of a similar or older age than yourself as SunBae-Nim, whose English equivalent meaning is “my Senior colleague.” This is a respectful way of addressing those in Korean jobs of a slightly higher status than your own.
The job titles and hierarchical structures in Korea vary slightly depending on the industry and business division. This ranking system is based predominantly on years of service and the corporate titles are very similar to Japan. With so many titles division from team members to executive management, it can be overwhelming. Here are the Key Korean job titles which are the most commonly used ones. This is based on my experience working for Korean manufacturing companies.
New Graduate Employee/ Newly/ Newbies (신입사원 Shinip-sawon)
After being accepted by the company, you will be the Shinip-sawon, which means you are the newly employed staff under probation by the company. You will most probably be under probation until the company confirms you to become regular staff. It is also considered as the trainee or new hire or the newbies)
Regular Staff (사원 Sawon)
After the probation period, he or she is now confirmed as the Regular Staff of the company. These are the entry-level staff members focused on the specific tasks and roles. Sawan will be officially given a Staff Pass card.
Foreman / Squad Leader (반장 Ban-jang)
Ban-jang is the field or class monitor of the department.
Senior Staff / Assistant Manager (주임 JooIm)
Not all companies have JooIm but they are basically the next step up from being a graduate worker. Sometimes if a graduate employee has a Master Degree or Doctorate then they are automatically promoted to this level. The only difference from a Sawon is an increase in pay.
Assistant Manager/ Deputy Manager (대리 Daeri)
After a few years of experience, basically more than four years, the next hierarchy will be Daeri. Daeri is the section manager and they work independently for their tasks and work. While Daeri also shares the workload as the Sawon.
Team Manager/ Section Manager/ Head of Unit (과장 Kwajang)
When you get older and experience approximately seven plus years, employees most probably reach the title of Kwajang, head of a team of a section. Kwajang Leads projects, teams or handles department operations.
Deputy General Manager/ Deputy Head of Department/ Deputy Team Leader/ Vice Head of Division (차장 ChaJang)
Chajang is just below or a direct subordinate of the Head of Department or Bujang.
Head of Department / Team Leader/ Head Manager/ Division Head (부장 Bujang )
Bujang heads the different sections that form a department. The BuJang, also known as Team-Jang Nim, is the leader of a team within a department. This person will be part of a group of team-jang’s who meet with the several department heads such as Sangmoo, Eesa to discuss business and then filter down instructions, directions to each of their own teams. Bujang generally has 11-12 years experience depending on the industry structure .
Director (이사 Eesa)
Eesa is the lowest level of seniority when it comes to being a director. This is for the younger department heads. Generally smaller or less important departments will have an Eesa at the top rather than a SangMoo or a Jeonmo. These are the senior executives involved in company strategies.
Vice President/ Managing Director/ COO/ Executive Vice President (상무이사 Sang-moo Eesa) (전무이사 JeonMo Eesa)
Jeon Moo is short for JeonMo Eesa and roughly addresses the director in charge of all aspects of the company. Jeonmu-Eesa or Sang-moo Eesa is generally the third most senior level in hierarchy for the company directors.
Deputy President/ Vice-chair (부사장 Busajang)
Busajang oversees a department and makes key decisions and reports to the President.
President/Chairman/ CEO (회장 Hwe-jang ) (대표 Dae-pyo ) (사장 Sajang)
The CEO or Chairman is the highest-ranking position in Korean companies. This position involves presenting all employees with the company vision. The Hwe-Jang of a Korean organization is the primary decision maker of a big company and often the most prominent financial shareholder as well. Sajang is the president of a small or micro level Korean company.
Make life in Korea easier with Famigo as it offers job information, visa and financial support, exclusive discounts on essentials and many more services while living in Korea. Photo credit: Famigo Amigo
The worldwide dominant LG company logo at its headquarters in Seoul, Korea. Photo credit: Korea Times.
Job titles are of high importance in the Republic of Korea. Korean companies are well-known for their hierarchy and structure. The typical job titles progress essentially reflecting a very hierarchical structure where titles symbolizes seniority and power within the company. Employees typically address each other by their titles with respect rather than first names. A person's title often indicates their level of responsibility and decision-making authority within the organization.
Learning about job titles is crucial if you plan to work in Korea. It is essential to familiarize yourself with Korean corporate titles. For someone who does not have any insight into the Korean language, Korean corporate titles can be daunting. If you would like to address your Korean co-workers or business partners appropriately, remember to add “-nim” as a suffix to every Korean title. This suffix added to Korean words indicates politeness and respect.
If you cannot remember the correct job title for one of your co-workers, you can refer to those of a similar or older age than yourself as SunBae-Nim, whose English equivalent meaning is “my Senior colleague.” This is a respectful way of addressing those in Korean jobs of a slightly higher status than your own.
The job titles and hierarchical structures in Korea vary slightly depending on the industry and business division. This ranking system is based predominantly on years of service and the corporate titles are very similar to Japan. With so many titles division from team members to executive management, it can be overwhelming. Here are the Key Korean job titles which are the most commonly used ones. This is based on my experience working for Korean manufacturing companies.
New Graduate Employee/ Newly/ Newbies (신입사원 Shinip-sawon)
After being accepted by the company, you will be the Shinip-sawon, which means you are the newly employed staff under probation by the company. You will most probably be under probation until the company confirms you to become regular staff. It is also considered as the trainee or new hire or the newbies)
Regular Staff (사원 Sawon)
After the probation period, he or she is now confirmed as the Regular Staff of the company. These are the entry-level staff members focused on the specific tasks and roles. Sawan will be officially given a Staff Pass card.
Foreman / Squad Leader (반장 Ban-jang)
Ban-jang is the field or class monitor of the department.
Senior Staff / Assistant Manager (주임 JooIm)
Not all companies have JooIm but they are basically the next step up from being a graduate worker. Sometimes if a graduate employee has a Master Degree or Doctorate then they are automatically promoted to this level. The only difference from a Sawon is an increase in pay.
Assistant Manager/ Deputy Manager (대리 Daeri)
After a few years of experience, basically more than four years, the next hierarchy will be Daeri. Daeri is the section manager and they work independently for their tasks and work. While Daeri also shares the workload as the Sawon.
Team Manager/ Section Manager/ Head of Unit (과장 Kwajang)
When you get older and experience approximately seven plus years, employees most probably reach the title of Kwajang, head of a team of a section. Kwajang Leads projects, teams or handles department operations.
Deputy General Manager/ Deputy Head of Department/ Deputy Team Leader/ Vice Head of Division (차장 ChaJang)
Chajang is just below or a direct subordinate of the Head of Department or Bujang.
Head of Department / Team Leader/ Head Manager/ Division Head (부장 Bujang )
Bujang heads the different sections that form a department. The BuJang, also known as Team-Jang Nim, is the leader of a team within a department. This person will be part of a group of team-jang’s who meet with the several department heads such as Sangmoo, Eesa to discuss business and then filter down instructions, directions to each of their own teams. Bujang generally has 11-12 years experience depending on the industry structure .
Director (이사 Eesa)
Eesa is the lowest level of seniority when it comes to being a director. This is for the younger department heads. Generally smaller or less important departments will have an Eesa at the top rather than a SangMoo or a Jeonmo. These are the senior executives involved in company strategies.
Vice President/ Managing Director/ COO/ Executive Vice President (상무이사 Sang-moo Eesa) (전무이사 JeonMo Eesa)
Jeon Moo is short for JeonMo Eesa and roughly addresses the director in charge of all aspects of the company. Jeonmu-Eesa or Sang-moo Eesa is generally the third most senior level in hierarchy for the company directors.
Deputy President/ Vice-chair (부사장 Busajang)
Busajang oversees a department and makes key decisions and reports to the President.
President/Chairman/ CEO (회장 Hwe-jang ) (대표 Dae-pyo ) (사장 Sajang)
The CEO or Chairman is the highest-ranking position in Korean companies. This position involves presenting all employees with the company vision. The Hwe-Jang of a Korean organization is the primary decision maker of a big company and often the most prominent financial shareholder as well. Sajang is the president of a small or micro level Korean company.
Make life in Korea easier with Famigo as it offers job information, visa and financial support, exclusive discounts on essentials and many more services while living in Korea. Photo credit: Famigo Amigo