u/Extra_Release_9308

I work at a Korean company branch outside Korea, and honestly the work environment is becoming really exhausting mentally.

At first I thought it was just “strict work culture,” but after some time I realized a lot of things here are just unhealthy. Managers often yell at employees when they’re stressed, even if the issue has nothing to do with us. Sometimes they don’t check things properly themselves, then suddenly blame the staff when problems happen. The atmosphere feels very emotionally reactive

people higher up release their anger downward.

There’s also this expectation to always endure everything quietly because “that’s just how Korean companies are.” Long hours, sudden pressure, inconsistent communication, and feeling scared to speak up are treated like normal things. If someone questions it, they get labeled as sensitive or not hardworking enough.

What frustrates me most is that the overseas local employees and Korean employees are often treated differently. Local staff are expected to adapt endlessly, while basic respect and healthy communication are somehow optional.

I know not every Korean company is like this, and I’ve met amazing Korean coworkers too. But I’m curious if other people working in Korean companies abroad experienced similar things?

How do you deal with managers who use employees as emotional punching bags? And at what point do you decide it’s time to leave instead of trying to survive it?

Hi, I just need a place to share this because I’ve been keeping it to myself for too long.

I’ve been working for a few years now, and honestly, things used to be fine. I could handle my workload, I felt relatively stable, and I didn’t really question my job that much.

But after a management change, everything slowly shifted.

At first, I thought it was just a matter of adjusting to a different leadership style, so I tried to stay positive and adapt. I didn’t complain and just focused on doing my job well.

Over time, though, it started to feel really difficult. The expectations became unclear, and the workload kept increasing. I also started getting more and more tasks outside of what I originally signed up for.

There was a moment when concerns were brought up, but the response didn’t really open space for discussion—it felt more like “if this doesn’t work for you, maybe this isn’t the right place.”

Since then, I’ve just been trying to keep up.

But lately, I feel constantly tired. Even after resting, I still feel drained. My motivation is dropping, and I’m starting to feel disconnected from my work.

The problem is… I want to leave, but I’m also scared.

The job market isn’t great, and I don’t have a backup yet. So now I feel stuck between staying in something that’s exhausting me and leaving without certainty.

Has anyone else been in this kind of situation?

How did you decide whether to stay or leave?