In a Korean workplace you address colleagues by their job title plus the honorific 님 (nim), not by their first name. A department head is 부장님 (bujang-nim), a manager is 과장님 (gwajang-nim) and a team leader is 팀장님 (timjang-nim). Colleagues of equal or lower rank are called by name plus 씨 (ssi), and polite speech (존댓말, jondaenmal) is the default with everyone.
Why do Koreans use job titles instead of names at work?
Korean office culture is built around hierarchy and age, so a person’s position is part of how you speak to them. Using someone’s title shows you recognise their role. Calling a senior colleague by their first name, as you might in a UK office, comes across as rude or overly familiar.
The title usually comes after the surname: 김 과장님 (Kim gwajang-nim) means “Manager Kim”. Once you know someone well, the title alone (과장님) is perfectly normal.
What are the main Korean job titles in order of rank?
Ranks differ between companies, but the traditional ladder in a large Korean firm looks like this, from junior to senior:
| Korean | Romanisation | Typical English equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 사원 | sawon | Staff / associate |
| 주임 | juim | Senior staff |
| 대리 | daeri | Assistant manager |
| 과장 | gwajang | Manager |
| 차장 | chajang | Deputy general manager |
| 부장 | bujang | General manager / department head |
| 이사 | isa | Director |
| 상무 | sangmu | Managing director |
| 전무 | jeonmu | Senior managing director |
| 사장 | sajang | President / CEO |
| 회장 | hoejang | Chairman |
Role-based titles sit alongside the ladder. The most common is 팀장 (timjang, team leader). Many tech firms and start-ups have flattened their ranks and use 매니저 (maenijeo, manager), 프로 (peuro) or even English names instead. If you are unsure, listen to what colleagues call each other in your first week and copy them.
Tap to hear the essential titles
When do you use 님 (nim) and when do you use 씨 (ssi)?
님 is a respectful honorific added to titles. Use it whenever you speak to or about someone senior. 씨 is a polite but neutral suffix for colleagues of the same or lower rank, usually with their full name or given name (박지은 씨, 지은 씨).
Which speech level should you use at work?
Two polite levels cover almost every workplace situation:
- Formal (하십시오체), -ㅂ니다 / -습니다 endings: for meetings, presentations, reports to senior management and first introductions. Example: 확인했습니다 (hwaginhaetseumnida), “I have checked it.”
- Polite (해요체), -아요 / -어요 endings: for everyday conversation with colleagues and your direct team. Example: 확인했어요 (hwaginhaesseoyo).
Casual speech (반말, banmal) is only for close colleagues who have explicitly agreed to it, usually people of the same age.
What everyday office phrases should you know?
Be careful with 수고하세요 (sugohaseyo, “keep up the good work”). Many Koreans feel it sounds like a senior speaking down to a junior, so the safer choices for your boss are 수고하셨습니다 or 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다.
What are the most common mistakes foreigners make?
- Using a manager’s first name, or “Mr Kim”, in Korean conversation.
- Adding 님 to their own title when introducing themselves.
- Switching to 반말 because a colleague is friendly.
- Assuming English-name companies have no hierarchy. Seniority still shapes who speaks first and who decides.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I call my Korean boss by their first name?
No. In Korean you address a boss by surname plus title plus 님, for example 김 부장님, or simply 부장님. First names are only used where a company has formally adopted English names or a no-title policy.
What does 님 (nim) mean in Korean?
님 is a respectful honorific suffix. It is attached to job titles (과장님), to some names in writing, and to words like 선생님 (teacher) to show respect. You never use it about yourself.
What do I call a Korean coworker who is my age?
Use their name plus 씨, for example 지은 씨, and polite 해요체 speech. Only switch to casual speech if they suggest it.
Is it rude to say 수고하세요 to my boss?
Many Koreans consider it slightly inappropriate from a junior to a senior, because it can sound like an instruction. Say 수고하셨습니다 or 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다 instead.
What is the difference between 부장 and 팀장?
부장 is a rank on the corporate ladder (general manager), while 팀장 is a role (team leader). A 부장 is often also a 팀장, and when someone holds both, people commonly use the role title 팀장님.
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