[Korean Culture & Language] 상명하복



‘꼰대’ usually refers to a person who often gives unwanted advises and demands absolute obedience from younger generations or their juniors at work. Even though anyone can be a 꼰대 regardless of age or gender, most people picture a man when they hear the term. 

It might be because 군대 (military), where all non-disabled Korean men are obligated to serve for about two years, has the worst 꼰대 culture. According to a writer on Namuwiki, most men become 꼰대s once they become corporals.

https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%BC%B0%EB%8C%80 

They complain about their superiors being authoritative, but they behave the same way toward their juniors and bully them without thinking twice about it. They get so used to the hierarchical culture in 군대 that they still act the same way after leaving the military. They become workplace 꼰대s. Bullying in the military has always been a big issue, but only after many soldiers commit suicide and go on a shooting spree as an act of revenge for bullying, the government started restricting it strongly. 

https://www.news-ade.com/1000002897

Five Korean men in their late 20s discuss how the “상명하복식” military culture affects their lives even after they are discharged from the military, on News-ade.com. ‘상명하복’ is an abbreviation of ‘상관이 명령하면 하관은 복종한다,’ which means “When seniors order, juniors must obey”. Even if the seniors assign ridiculous or almost impossible tasks, the juniors are expected to pull them off. It’s also common for them not to object to the decision of their superiors or seniors. 

The meme above is titled “내리갈굼,” which literally translates as “downward bullying”. The superior yells at his subordinate, and the one got yelled at yells at his subordinate, and it goes on.

This is a pretty common phenomenon at workplaces all around the world. However, in Korea, most people who have an authoritative, “상명하복식” mindset are men, since they learn that mindset from the military. 

Thankfully military bullying in Korea is disappearing, and no one can physically abuse another as they used to in the past. However, ‘상명하복식’ 꼰대s still exist, and they make Korean men’s military time harder to endure.

Please keep reading to check out these five men’s interviews!

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