As I approach the one-month mark of my internship in Korea, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I’ve adjusted so far. Most cultural differences here have been pretty easy to pick up on – small mannerisms like not eating until the eldest or any women at the table have taken their first bite, bowing when greeting someone, or always handing things over with two hands. These norms may be unfamiliar at first, but they’re simple adjustments, and I’ve found that I’ve adopted many of them naturally and without much resistance. What’s been much more difficult to adapt to, though, is something less visible but more deeply ingrained: Korea’s intense work culture.

While I knew going into this program that I’d be working full-time, I don’t think I fully grasped just how demanding the 9-6 (and sometimes longer) schedule would be. In the U.S., it’s common to take a lunch long break or step away for a bit if you need to recharge. That kind of flexibility is rare here. At my internship, breaks are unheard of (aside from lunch), and there’s a strong sense of needing to always be “on.” People arrive early, stay late, and rarely complain because there’s an underlying expectation that hard work is simply the norm.

It’s taken a real toll on my ability to maintain a balanced life. I wake up, go to work, hit the gym, get home quite late, eat dinner, and then essentially go straight to bed. By the time the weekend rolls around, I often feel too physically and emotionally exhausted to plan anything ambitious. I’ve been slowly trying to find ways to manage this – small things like prepping meals ahead of time, forcing myself to take 10-minute walks during the day, or planning light, fun activities on the weekends with my friends to recharge. But the adjustment hasn’t been easy.

What’s been especially eye-opening is seeing how this same pressure weighs on Korean workers. When I go out to dinner on weeknights, I constantly see tables full of salarymen still in their suits, drinking heavily – sometimes alone, sometimes with colleagues. In conversations with my Korean coworkers, I’ve heard a recurring phrase: “We don’t really have a life outside of work.” For many of them, work consumes everything. The only time they feel like they can be themselves or relax is at night – often through drinking or nightlife. It’s a culture where staying late at the office is expected, and there’s no concept of overtime pay. One coworker explained that finishing your work by the deadline isn’t something you get rewarded for – it’s simply what you’re supposed to do, no matter how long it takes.

I find that both sobering and troubling. It’s hard to watch how this system wears people down. I’ve seen how mental health is often pushed aside or ignored here, and how little time people have to develop passions or relationships outside of work. It makes me deeply grateful that, while my internship is still demanding, I’m in a healthier environment than most. My company has a firm policy of being out by 7 p.m., and although my days are long and intense, I don’t feel like I’m trapped in the same cycle I’ve observed around me. That said, I know I’m still experiencing only a fraction of what full-time Korean professionals go through.

This experience has made me reflect a lot on the kind of work-life balance I want to build for myself in the future. It’s made me value things I took for granted back home, like flexible hours, time off, and open conversations about burnout. It’s also made me more aware of how culture shapes workplace expectations and how important it is to advocate for well-being, no matter where you are.

Despite the exhaustion, I’ve been trying to make the most of my time here. This past weekend, some friends and I visited Seongsu, a trendy neighborhood in Seoul known for thrifting and unique local brands. We walked around, grabbed coffee, and picked up some cool clothing pieces. We also joined our program advisors for a visit to Lotte World Tower, currently the 5th tallest building in the world. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. It really hit me just how massive Seoul is,  something I didn’t fully grasp until I saw it from that high up.

To reward myself after another demanding week, I’ve made plans to go to the Waterbomb Festival this weekend. It’s a huge summer concert event, and while I’m not a huge K-pop fan, I’m really looking forward to the experience. A friend of mine from another program is joining, and we’re excited to enjoy some live music, water fights, and much-needed downtime.

All in all, adapting to the work culture in Korea has been the most difficult adjustment for me. But I’m proud of the way I’ve pushed through and found small ways to protect my energy and enjoy life outside the office. This internship is teaching me not just about business, but about resilience, self-awareness, and the importance of maintaining balance in a world that doesn’t always make space for it.