Survey on Dinner Gathering Preferences Among 2,632 Gen Z Participants
The Worst is 'Dinner Gatherings That Excessively Encourage Drinking'
As the year-end approaches and the number of company dinners increases, Generation Z prefers "simple company dinners that last exactly one hour during lunch or dinner," according to a recent survey.
On the 1st, AI matching recruitment content platform Catch conducted a survey on "company dinners" targeting 2,632 Generation Z job seekers. Contrary to the notion that Generation Z dislikes company dinners, 44% answered that they "neither like nor dislike" them, making it the largest group.
The most preferred type of company dinner among Generation Z was "a simple company dinner lasting exactly one hour during lunch or dinner (33%)." This was followed by ▲gourmet dinners such as omakase or wine bars (30%), ▲optional attendance dinners (21%), ▲alcohol-free dinners (21%), and ▲unique dinners like movie outings (6%).
The worst type of company dinner was "dinners where excessive drinking is pressured," which accounted for 34%. This was followed by ▲dinners that continue until the last train (29%), ▲dinners filled with nagging and uncomfortable topics such as private matters (18%), and ▲dinners where attendance is mandatory for everyone (17.6%).
Regarding the appropriate frequency of company dinners, 29% of Generation Z thought "once per quarter" was ideal. "Once a year" and "once every six months" were similarly chosen by about 23%, and 18% answered "once a month." In contrast, only 2% said they would like company dinners to be held weekly.
As for the preferred ending time of company dinners, opinions were divided as follows: ▲3 hours (33%), ▲2 hours (32.8%), ▲1 hour (17%), and ▲preferably no company dinner at all (4%).
Kim Jeong-hyun, head of Catch at Jinhaksa, said, "At the end and beginning of the year, it is important to create company dinner occasions that everyone can enjoy regardless of generation," adding, "We recommend avoiding excessive drinking and holding neat company dinners that can be finished within a short time."
Company Dinner Culture Changed by COVID-19... "Company Dinners Decreased" 64.4%
Meanwhile, the number of company dinners has decreased and the culture of pressuring drinking is fading before and after COVID-19. According to the "Nighttime Activity Revitalization Public Opinion Survey" released by Seoul City last May, 64.4% responded that company dinners, which accounted for most nighttime activities before COVID-19, have "decreased."
As a result, the karaoke industry, which was considered an essential course of company dinners, has been severely impacted. According to local administrative licensing data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the number of new karaoke business openings (based on licensing) decreased by 42% from 1,061 in 2016 to 442 last year, six years later. Yearly figures are ▲2017 (1,019) ▲2018 (639) ▲2019 (673) ▲2020 (358) ▲2021 (240).
The alcoholic beverage industry is also keeping pace with the changing atmosphere. OB Beer’s Hanmac released a campaign advertisement last October opposing coercive company dinners. The advertisement video begins with a large outdoor billboard in the busy city among office workers that reads "Hanmac opposes company dinners." It then features actor Lee Byung-hun’s narration, "Our evenings should be a soft time that everyone can enjoy," along with scenes of people spending their evening in a joyful atmosphere.
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