[New Word Dictionary] Saladent - Working Professional Who Studies

Salldent is a compound word combining salaryman, meaning a salaried worker, and student, meaning a learner, referring to working professionals who study. The number of Salldents studying to prepare for the future after retirement or for self-development to get promoted is increasing. Illustration by Youngwoo Lee

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Gaston Bachelard, a French philosopher famous for his work "The Poetics of Reverie," chose to become a postal worker after high school instead of attending university due to family circumstances, obtaining a telegraph operator license. While working at the post office, Bachelard self-studied and earned a bachelor's degree. After marriage, he was drafted into World War I and spent over five years on the battlefield before returning to his hometown to become a teacher at his alma mater, Bar-sur-Aube Middle School. When his frail wife passed away, leaving behind a daughter, he brought his daughter to school and devoted his time outside of classes to childcare and self-study. Never stopping his studies while working, he earned a doctorate in philosophy at the age of 44 and soon passed the qualification exam to become a philosophy professor. After serving at the University of Dijon, Bachelard was appointed professor of philosophy at the Sorbonne University in 1940. He received the Legion of Honor in 1960 and the National Literary Award in 1961, establishing himself as a unique figure in modern French intellectual history.

“Salledent” is a compound word combining “salaryman” (office worker) and “student,” referring to working professionals who study. Steven Law, a British philosopher known for "The Day the Pig Fell into Philosophy," was also a postal worker at Cambridge Post Office for four years. He confessed that after trying various jobs, he became a postal worker and then immersed himself in reading. Law, who became engrossed in philosophy books, began studying philosophy at London City University, earned a first-class scholarship to Oxford University, and after obtaining his doctorate, now serves as a philosophy professor at Heythrop College, University of London. Salledent refers to the efforts of working professionals for self-development, but it also reflects the reality of workers who must endlessly study new fields or improve their professional expertise to avoid falling behind in a competitive society. According to a survey conducted last year by the job platform JobKorea of 1,907 workers, 72.1% answered that they “always have to engage in self-development.” These workers spend an average of 171,000 KRW per month and dedicate an average of 4 hours and 48 minutes per week to self-development. Among the respondents, 35.9% said they “always feel pressured to engage in self-development,” and 58.9% said they “sometimes feel it.” This is a bitter reality where more than half of workers accept studying as a mandatory part of competition.

Example

A: My body is all stiff from working from home these days. What are you doing tonight?
B: I’m busy attending a business English class.
A: Why study after work again?
B: A few days ago, I had a video conference with an American buyer, and my pronunciation got tangled, maybe because I was in front of the camera... I just couldn’t speak well. These days, studying also requires maintenance and continuous development. I have to think about retirement too.
A: Hey, you promised to go fishing with me after retirement... Oh, you want to travel abroad? Okay. I should study English a bit too! Haha

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