Breaking Down Generational Barriers Through Communication... Making Saeul Headquarters a Joyful Workplace

Launch of 'Change Agent S', Bridging Generational Communication

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Saeul Nuclear Power Headquarters (Head: So Youseop) has launched the ‘Change Agent S (Saeul Change Leaders)’ organization to improve corporate culture and is working to break down generational barriers.

Employees of Saeul Headquarters participating in the Intergenerational Barrier Breaking Program kickoff.

Saeul Nuclear Power Headquarters conducted a survey of all employees last year, confirming differences in the desired respect and communication styles between the older and younger generations. To identify the causes and find solutions, the headquarters began actively gathering communication improvement ideas.

The survey showed that as individualism spreads, many employees feel a sense of distance and difficulty communicating with colleagues. The older generation expressed nostalgia for the past workplace culture where colleagues could talk openly and build close relationships, and reported many difficulties communicating with younger employees. Meanwhile, younger employees said they wanted to be treated with respectful language and attitudes by their senior colleagues.

In particular, many respondents said they would prefer to be addressed with the honorific “-nim.”

As a first step in breaking down generational barriers, Saeul Headquarters held a kickoff workshop on the 18th. Senior and junior employees, selected as representatives from various ranks and age groups, participated as Change Agents and facilitated the workshop using a facilitation method that helps participants reach consensus through effective communication.

Participants drew diary comics depicting successful examples of intergenerational communication they had experienced, and discussed difficult moments of communication through brainstorming, sharing their thoughts about each generation and taking time to understand one another.

Going forward, these Change Agents plan to discover the most suitable communication culture and improvement ideas for Saeul Headquarters by engaging in barrier-free communication and benchmarking other companies within a virtual mini-department composed of various ranks and generations.

So Youseop, Head of Saeul Nuclear Power Headquarters, stated, “Communication is a crucial factor that determines the sustainability of a company,” and added, “I hope the Change Agents will carry out comprehensive activities so that their ideas can promote active intergenerational communication and create a vibrant corporate culture together.”