"'Feedback Culture' That Greatly Helps Work Performance Is Difficult in Korea"

Most Office Workers Say "Feedback Helps Work Performance"
2030 More Than 4050 "Want More Feedback"

The majority of office workers consider appropriate and clear feedback important for work and performance evaluations, but they also perceive that free feedback is difficult to achieve in Korean workplace culture.

6 out of 10 say "It is difficult to establish a feedback culture in Korea"

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On the 20th, market research firm Embrain Trend Monitor conducted a survey titled '2023 Workplace Performance Evaluation System and Feedback Survey' from June 30 to July 4, targeting 1,000 office workers nationwide. The results showed that more than 6 out of 10 workers (64.6%) responded that "there are many difficulties in establishing a feedback culture in Korea."

76.8% agreed that "feedback in Korean society is often perceived as unpleasant criticism or fault-finding," and 72.9% said that "there is generally a tendency to find it difficult to give and receive feedback."

Only 24.1% responded that specific feedback related to performance evaluations is given. 34.1% said they receive feedback indirectly, such as through colleagues, and 33.8% said there is no specific feedback, only notification of results.

Regarding work-related feedback, 38.7% said that feedback is freely exchanged between juniors and seniors, which was the highest response. However, a significant number also agreed that "supervisors or seniors tend to give feedback unilaterally" (28.5%) and that "feedback itself is rarely given" (26.2%).

"Feedback greatly helps work performance"... Supervisors who give good feedback are popular

However, office workers generally agreed on the positive effects of feedback.

85.8% said, "Appropriate and clear feedback greatly helps work results (performance)," and 75.8% said, "Work feedback is essential for personal growth and self-development." Additionally, 68.2% responded that "companies or departments (teams) without work feedback are likely to have low future growth potential."

46.2% expressed a desire to receive specific feedback on performance evaluations. By age group, the responses were ▲20s (53.6%) ▲30s (52.4%) ▲40s (45.2%) ▲50s (33.6%).

Supervisors and departments that give good feedback were also popular. 84.1% of respondents said, "I want to work with supervisors (seniors) who provide appropriate and clear feedback." 81.8% said, "I want to work in departments (teams) where feedback is freely exchanged."

Company culture: freer and more open environments increase trust among colleagues

The smoothness of feedback tends to be greatly influenced by organizational culture. The freer and more open the workplace culture, the more freely opinions are exchanged on company issues, and the higher the level of trust among department (team) members.

Respondents rated the consideration level of their department (team) colleagues highly, and emotional trust was also relatively high. Ultimately, it was confirmed that a horizontal and free workplace culture significantly affects not only job satisfaction but also workplace atmosphere and relationships with colleagues.

Embrain Trend Monitor stated, "Feedback should be used not simply as 'good' or 'bad' but as a tool for exchanging opinions freely and for organizational culture and individual growth," adding, "To establish a feedback culture, it seems essential first to create a horizontal atmosphere where feedback can be freely given and received."