[Asia Exclusive] Cafe24, Emphasizing Horizontal Culture and Rest... "Investment in People is the Foundation of Business"

Addressing all staff as "Nim" without ranks below Team Leader
Off days and refresh 1-month leave
Providing members with opportunities to recharge

Jaeseok Lee, CEO of Cafe24.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Lee Jae-seok, CEO of Cafe24, is a 'first-generation IT entrepreneur' who founded the company in 1999. CEO Lee believes that talent is the greatest asset of a company in the knowledge industry and that investment in people is the foundation of business. This corporate philosophy has become the basis for Cafe24's horizontal culture and its emphasis on the well-being of its members.

CEO Lee emphasized, "Cafe24's competitiveness comes from its people, and innovation happens when people meet and communicate with each other. IT companies face many challenges that require quick adaptation to change, but in a free atmosphere where members can mutually consult and coordinate opinions, fast decision-making is possible and productivity is increased."

Cafe24 pursues a culture where individuals lead self-directed lives. In traditional industries, companies hold the initiative in terms of production efficiency, but in knowledge industries like IT, authority is more concentrated in individuals. Therefore, Cafe24 is creating a horizontal culture where communication among members flows smoothly. At Cafe24, there are no ranks except for team leaders. Regardless of age or years of service, members address each other with the honorific suffix ‘-nim’ and communicate freely.

Cafe24 has established systems to allow its members’ creativity to flourish by providing rest. The most representative example is the designation of the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month as company-wide off days. Additionally, employees receive a one-month paid refresh leave every seven years of service. Such a culture that helps members relieve stress and recharge enhances employees’ work concentration and job satisfaction, contributing to a creative and self-directed corporate culture.

CEO Lee regards trust and faith as the greatest values in corporate management. Trust between members of the organization, between members and the company, and between the company and customers is crucial enough to determine the success or failure of a business. He particularly mentioned that gaining employees’ trust is the most difficult. It requires voluntary participation from members rather than unilateral orders, and creating an atmosphere of trust and cooperation is impossible without communication. The same applies to trust with client companies. CEO Lee stated, "We never consider providing unnecessary services to customers or causing them disadvantages for business purposes," and added, "We emphasize forming an ecosystem based on trust and faith with our partners."