The East Asian region is widely known for its highly fast-paced working culture. From the perspective of Confucianism, hard work and dedication are best put into use if one prioritizes the community’s welfare over their own. In South Korea, Japan, and China, respect for the elderly, loyalty to social boundaries, and any extra effort are welcomed and praised both in one’s career life and in their day-to-day encounters. Such established cultural constructs evidently favor societies over individuals and the common good over individuals’ well-being. Nevertheless, there are a number of benefits stemming from the “Asian working culture” that have a positive effect specifically on individuals, indicating a possible necessity for the traditional views on working in order to remain in place with a constantly changing economy.

One of the undeniable advantages of working more is an increase in the amount of time one can spend mastering their craft. There is a popular belief suggesting that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill; although this might not be entirely accurate, the more time one has to concentrate on their job and practice what they’re doing repetitively, the faster they gain expertise in a certain field. Those who genuinely enjoy their jobs would achieve greater success, as they would be certain that they’re putting extra effort into what makes them who they are.

Sticking to the traditional views on working culture improves not only one’s career, but also their personal lives. The ability to concentrate that comes naturally with endless hours working on a specific project is becoming rarer in the era of bite-sized information. Those who work harder tend to be more stress-resistant and mentally agile. As working more than necessary takes away a chunk of one’s personal time, prioritizing and managing time off-work in the most efficient way becomes a necessity. The value of time when one can relax is truly understood when it’s scarce, allowing those who put the extra effort in their work to enjoy their free time to the fullest.

The part of the working population that benefits most from a demanding working culture are young workers, especially fresh graduates. They have the health and time to put long hours into developing their careers early on. By putting more effort into work, people develop a number of good habits and beliefs, such as understanding the value of hard work and efficient time management. Additionally, working overtime gives a chance for young people to earn more money when they need it most — the financial demands after graduation with student loans and newly taken mortgages pressure the young to earn as much as they can. 

Clearly, the work culture in South Korea does not benefit everyone. There are numerous incidents of people overworking themselves to death, and such occurrences have become increasingly widespread across the East Asian region. With all its pros and cons, the working culture in South Korea should be more understanding of the whole working class, providing everyone with the opportunity to contribute more than necessary if they wish, while still granting everyone stable employment and unbiased treatment towards those who only complete the demanded minimum. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that in modern-day capitalism, those who advance in their careers faster and conquer higher heights are those who dedicate more of their time and inner peace than others. Such a lifestyle is challenging, but that might be exactly what those who want to be on the top are looking for. With that being said, a quote by Dean Briggs puts a final touch to a positive view on the demanding work culture: “Do your work. Not just your work, do a little more, but that little is worth more than all the rest. And if you suffer, as you must, and if you doubt, as you must, do your work. Put your heart into it, and the sky will clear. Then out of your doubt and suffering will be born the supreme joy of life.”