workplace culture - Korea in Depth

05 – A Society That Moves Quickly but Does Not Rush Emotion

2026-01-182025-12-21 by Sampajano

Sunset view of Seoul with a tall glass skyscraper rising above the city, surrounded by dense buildings, a river, and evening light.

In Korea’s fast-moving cities, emotional restraint often accompanies efficiency, not indifference. This essay traces how speed and feeling have learned to coexist through carefully maintained distance.