Master ‘Wor-Label’: How to Request Flexible Hours in Korean

Intro

안녕하세요! 여러분의 한국어 실력을 업그레이드해 줄 [Daily Hangul]입니다! (Hello! This is [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!)

How is your work-life balance these days? In Korea, the concept of “Wor-Label” (Work-Life Balance) has become a huge trend. More and more companies are adopting flexible work systems, allowing employees to adjust their schedules to fit their personal lives.

Today, we are going to learn how to formally request a schedule adjustment at work. Specifically, we will look at a situation where you need to change your hours to help your children with school drop-offs and pick-ups. This is a very practical B2-level skill that involves explaining your situation logically and asking for permission politely.

Let’s dive into the expressions that will make you sound like a professional Korean employee!

Core Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions to help you negotiate your schedule professionally.

1. 등하교 [Deung-ha-gyo]

• English Meaning: Going to and coming home from school (School drop-off/pick-up)
• Detailed Explanation: This is a compound word of ‘등교’ (going to school) and ‘하교’ (leaving school). In a workplace setting, instead of saying “I need to take my kid to school,” using the word “자녀 등하교” (child’s school commute) sounds much more formal and professional when explaining the reason for your request.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Pronounced as [Deung-ha-gyo].
  • Make sure to pronounce the ‘h’ in ‘ha’ clearly. Unlike some words where ‘h’ becomes silent, here it is distinct because it is the start of a Sino-Korean character root.

2. 조정하다 [Jo-jeong-ha-da]

• English Meaning: To adjust / To coordinate
• Detailed Explanation: You use this verb when you want to change a schedule, plan, or figure slightly. In a business context, you don’t just “change” (바꾸다) time; you “adjust” (조정하다) it. It implies a negotiation or a fine-tuning process.
  • Example: “출근 시간을 9시에서 10시로 조정하고 싶습니다.” (I would like to adjust my start time from 9 to 10.)

3. 양해를 부탁드립니다 [Yang-hae-reul bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da]

• English Meaning: I ask for your understanding.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial phrase for B2 learners! It is a very polite and formal way to close a request, especially when that request might cause a slight inconvenience to others. It shows you respect the team and the company.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip (Nasalization – 비음화):
  • Pay close attention to the end: ‘부탁드립니다’.
  • It is written as ‘bu-tak-deu-rib-ni-da’ but pronounced [bu-tak-deu-rim-ni-da].
  • Why? This is a rule called Nasalization. When the ending consonant ‘ㅂ’ (b/p) meets the nasal sound ‘ㄴ’ (n), the ‘ㅂ’ changes into an ‘ㅁ’ (m) sound to make it easier to pronounce.
  • Rule: ㅂ + ㄴ -> [ㅁ + ㄴ]
  • So, don’t say “Rib-ni-da” (hard stop). Say “Rim-ni-da” (soft flow). It sounds much more natural!

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation between Min-su (employee) and his Team Leader.

Min-su: 팀장님, 잠시 드릴 말씀이 있습니다. (Team Leader, I have something to tell you for a moment.)

Team Leader: 네, 민수 씨. 무슨 일인가요? (Yes, Min-su. What is it?)

Min-su: 다름이 아니라, 아이의 초등학교 입학으로 등하교를 제가 맡게 되었습니다. (It’s nothing other than, my child is entering elementary school, so I have to take charge of the drop-off and pick-up.)

Team Leader: 아, 정말요? 축하해요. 그런데 시간이 좀 빠듯하겠네요. (Oh, really? Congratulations. But the time must be tight.)

Min-su: 네, 그래서 혹시 유연근무제를 활용해서 출퇴근 시간을 30분 정도 조정할 수 있을까요? (Yes, so implies asking: Would it be possible to use the flexible work system to adjust my commuting time by about 30 minutes?)

Team Leader: 음, 업무에 지장이 없다면 가능합니다. (Hmm, if it doesn’t hinder the work, it is possible.)

Min-su: 네, 업무에는 차질이 없도록 하겠습니다. 팀원들에게도 제가 잘 설명하고 양해를 구하겠습니다. (Yes, I will make sure there are no setbacks in work. I will also explain it well to the team members and ask for their understanding.)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis: “Wor-Label”

Have you heard of “Wor-Label” (워라밸)? It is a Korean abbreviation for Work-Life Balance.

In the past, working late (야근) and company dinners (회식) were mandatory parts of Korean office life. However, lately, the trend has shifted dramatically!
* Flexible Work System (유연근무제): Many companies now allow employees to choose their start and end times (e.g., 8-5, 9-6, or 10-7) as long as they complete their required hours.
* Family Care: Mentioning “childcare” (육아) as a reason for schedule adjustment is now legally protected and socially accepted in most workplaces.

Using formal terms like “조정하다” and “양해를 구하다” instead of just saying “I want to change my time” shows that you are a professional who values both your family and your responsibility to the company. It makes your request much more likely to be approved!

Conclusion & Practice

Today, we learned how to professionally request a schedule change for family reasons. Remember, politeness and clear vocabulary are key!

📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blank with the correct word we learned today.

“Because of my child’s school schedule, I would like to _________ my work hours.”
(아이 학교 일정 때문에 근무 시간을 _________하고 싶습니다.)

1. 등하교
2. 조정
3. 양해

Answer: 2. 조정 (Adjustment)

Today’s Task:
Try writing a sentence in the comments using “양해를 부탁드립니다”. For example: “I am late for the reply, I ask for your understanding.”

See you in the next lesson! 👋