"I Hate Newbies Bringing Coffee to Work"… What Are the Standards in the 'Kkondae' Controversy?

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"I'm considered one of the younger employees at my company... but every little thing the new hires do really annoys me. Am I a 'young kkondae'?"

The term "kkondae" refers to a person with an authoritarian mindset, commonly used to describe older workplace supervisors or the older generation. Nowadays, age is a secondary issue. Rather, people get more upset when a senior who joined just 1-2 years earlier gives orders without guidance or even criticizes and interferes in personal matters. These individuals are called "yeolkkon" (a shortened form of "young kkondae").

The Emergence of 'Yeolkkon'

Recently, the "yeolkkon debate" surrounding the behavior of new employees has become a hot topic among office workers. In the recently aired Coupang Play show "SNL Korea" episode "MZ Office," scenes showed young employees wearing earphones during work hours or not setting the table in the cafeteria, which sparked heated reactions from viewers. Opinions clashed sharply between those saying "It ruins the work atmosphere" and "They lack basic manners," and those arguing "Why should they be good at things unrelated to work?" and "As long as they do their job well, that's enough."

On the 21st, an anonymous post appeared on the office worker community "Blind," stating, "I don't like it when new employees come to work holding coffee in their hands." The author, Mr. A, asked, "Honestly, I can't even buy coffee for them, so maybe I shouldn't say this, but am I really a kkondae?" Most netizens who saw the post responded that Mr. A is indeed a kkondae.

One netizen sarcastically said, "Among kkondaes, you're top-tier," and asked, "Would it be better if they held the coffee with both hands?" Others questioned, "They’re not even late, so why is it viewed negatively?" and "Does that mean they have to buy coffee for people in other departments too?"

What Is the Standard for Being a Kkondae?

Kkondae Test

So, what is the standard for being a kkondae? Since calling someone a kkondae is subjective, there is no clear criterion. Accordingly, self-diagnosis tools like the and have been created. According to these checklists, naturally using informal speech (banmal) with younger juniors or being bothered by their clothes or opinions are included.

Some say, "If you cannot answer 'why?' reasonably, you are a kkondae." The world keeps changing, but a kkondae stubbornly imposes their way of thinking on others without good reason. When giving advice to juniors, one should consider whether it is truly helpful. If it sounds like a command or coercion, it can be perceived as oppressive.

Some argue that a certain degree of "kkondae" culture is necessary in companies. In group life where it is impossible to recognize every individual's personality and differences, following company rules is essential to improve work efficiency. While excessively conservative and hierarchical relationships should be avoided, a minimum level of "etiquette" is necessary in workplaces where seniority and age are clearly distinguished.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.