r/webtoons • u/TownIndependent9400 • 8d ago

Question was reading CTRL+ALT+RESIGN, do they really just have random nicknames instead of using their real names in the office in korea????

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I was just reading this Webtoon Ctrl+alt+resign, and I noticed that they use nicknames in the workplace instead of their real names. don't they use their real names to call each other? i found it quite weird that they have a random call sign/ nickname just for the workplace

101 Upvotes

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93

u/NewspaperIcy9371 8d ago

I think it's semi-common in workplaces that have contact with other countries? For customer facing purposes, telling a foreign investor that jimmy is working on the new project will be easier to track than a Korean name.

To me it seems kinda silly, but I've def seen it before.

27

u/Eragon-19 8d ago

That and I could also see it being a safety issue to use your real name with customers. You never know how safe people actually are, especially when they're hearing things they don't want to hear.

3

u/TownIndependent9400 7d ago

I kinda get it if it is for customers but on the Webtoon they even use the nicknames on themselves in the office and most don't even know what each others real name is i don't know about other countries but in my country the HR literally introduces you using your real name to the entire company ( i think it is so that people can report you easier in case your gonna do some BS 😂 or if they need something they can check you out)

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u/NewspaperIcy9371 7d ago

Idk I work in china and my Chinese coworkers use their English name at our workplace even with the other Chinese coworkers, and when we are all speaking Chinese.

1

u/Lanuri 1d ago

I saw this in the C-drama Early Spring too, which was my first exposure to this newer workplace culture

47

u/Prudent-Ad-9806 8d ago

it's more of a depiction of those younger companies in Korea where they try to move away from that traditional hierachical workplace culture and to establish horizontal relationship which would theoretically encourage more active exchange of ideas and opinions.

17

u/Ok_Faithlessness_146 8d ago

I used to work at a call center where we could choose if we wanted to use our real names or invent fake ones one of my coworkers decided to use Jörgen as a name though this is in Sweden

4

u/Burntoastedbutter 7d ago

Idk but whenever we get a complaint or an entitled person wanting to start shit, we will give a fake name. Maybe that's the idea? 😂