Lim, Wee-Yen
Researcher
Division of Strategy Planning and Global Cooperation
KISTEP(Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning)
I’m working at the Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), in the Division of Strategy Planning & Global Cooperation. My division charts the corporate strategy plan, acts as a liaison between KISTEP and foreign institutions, and also conducts PR. I’m involved in dealing with launching of global cooperation project with developing countries.
Since the first day of arriving in Seoul, I knew that a new interesting chapter has just been added into my life and career. This is the 3rd month I’m in Seoul, I have experienced and still experiencing the uniqueness of the Korean culture, life value and work environment.
I came to Korea with only knowing “Anyong-haseyo”(Hello) and “Kamsha hamnida”(Thank you), and that’s obviously not enough for me to get myself around comfortably with my daily life activities on my own. Luckily, my colleagues are helpful and try to help me as much as they can with my daily needs enquiries such as where to get what. And I’m glad that my adjustment to the Korean system did not take long. At the moment, I’m improving my command of Korean language with the Korean class organized by KOTRA, which will make my stay in Korea convenient and comfortable.
The work environment is new for me too, in certain aspects. For example, office is quiet all the time, and pin-drop silent during the working hour. I wasn’t quite used to it, but later I come to know the rationale of having quiet office is to allow researchers to concentrate on their work in a conducive working environment with minimal distraction. It doesn’t mean communications among co-workers are discouraged, but they should be done either in the designated areas (i.e.: office lounge and discussion rooms.).
Another unique work value is that long annual leave (i.e.: more than 1 weeks) is not practiced in Korea working culture as Koreans are hard-working and try going to office on every working day. I felt the “can-do” spirit in Korean in their dedication to education and work.
So far, I enjoyed the learning of new culture that I had by working in the Korean society. Thanks to Contact Korea in making this opportunity possible for me to experience the working culture of a dynamic country that has rapidly advanced and developed in just a few decades. I’m looking forward to exploring and learning more about the dynamic Korea during my stay in Seoul
