[Jjinbit] Cheers for 'Shorts Office Look' Amid the Heatwave

Expansion of Male Office Workers Wearing Shorts to Work... Changes Driven by Three Factors
Some Still Ask 'Is It Okay to Wear?'... Hoping the Question Disappears

Editor's Note[Jjinbit] is a shortened form of 'Jung Hyunjin's Business Trend' and 'Real Business Trend,' a segment that showcases trends in changes in work.

Fashion brand Musinsa recently announced that the search volume for the keyword 'men's shorts' among clothing product searches from June to July this year increased by 40% compared to the same period last year. Musinsa explained that this reflects the growing demand for 'shorts as office wear.' This means that the number of office workers purchasing shorts for commuting has significantly increased amid this year's unusually long rainy season and heavy rains, followed by a heatwave.

An image of a Musinsa employee wearing shorts to work, featured in the YouTube channel MusinsaTV's 'Work Outfit' content (Photo by Musinsa)

Of course, the trend of wearing shorts as office wear did not emerge overnight simply due to climate change. For male office workers, shorts represent a revolutionary element in office fashion. In the past, even during the hottest midsummer days, the standard office attire for men was long-sleeved shirts and suits covering arms and legs. Until recently, allowing ankle-length long cotton pants or jeans paired with short-sleeved polo shirts was considered 'business casual.' The acceptance of shorts in the office is a very recent development.

Several societal actors' shifts in perception preceded this change. First, government-led energy-saving campaigns played a significant role in promoting shorts as office wear. In Japan, known for its conservative corporate culture, the 'Cool Biz' campaign started in 2005, encouraging government agencies and companies to adopt no-tie and short-sleeved attire during the summer campaign period. Subsequently, in South Korea, the Ministry of Environment launched a similar campaign called 'Cool Mapsi' in 2009 through a public contest. The practical goal of reducing electricity usage by shedding hot and stuffy suits brought the acceptance of shorts one step closer.

The desire of companies to create a freer and more flexible organizational culture through dress code liberalization also fueled this change. Starting with SK in 2000, followed by Samsung Electronics in 2008, LG Electronics in 2018, Hyundai Motor Group in 2019, and POSCO this year, companies have successively declared dress code liberalization. Samsung Electronics allowed shorts eight years after its first dress code liberalization announcement, in 2016.

Moreover, with the emergence of the young MZ generation as the main workforce, the shorts office wear trend spread rapidly. Older generations, who were conservative about office attire, maintained negative views on shorts at work despite changes in government and corporate policies. According to a survey conducted last month by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Ipsos of over 1,000 American workers, 50% and 58% of workers aged 50-64 and 65 and older, respectively?generations around the Baby Boomer cohort?responded that wearing shorts to work is 'inappropriate.' In contrast, 69% of those aged 35-49 and 73% of those under 35 said it is acceptable to wear shorts.

This summer, remarks from key organizational leaders regarding wearing shorts reflect generational and societal changes. Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo told MZ generation public officials last month, "Whether you come wearing shorts or just your underwear, do as you please." Cho Won-tae, Chairman of Hanjin Group, expressed on the company's anonymous bulletin board, "Wearing shorts to work is an employee's personal choice. No one should say anything about it." This was in response to employees still asking if it is okay to wear shorts at work. We look forward to the day when the question of whether one can wear shorts at work disappears entirely.

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