The Lunch Tray Grows Up

Twenty-three years ago, my husband’s job at LG in Korea came with a place to live—and three meals a day. His monthly dormitory fee, including breakfast, was ₩21,000 (about $18 at the time). Lunch and dinner at work were free. We sometimes spent more on a single date-night meal.

In this episode, we explore how meals and housing became part of some Korean employers’ role, and why a job seeker might love the cafeteria while getting nervous about a company that calls itself “like a family.”

The companion essay, The Lunch Tray Grows Up, explores workplace cafeterias, who helps pay for lunch, and who gets to eat there. This episode follows the history and expectations behind that support. Read and listen for the whole picture; my husband’s dormitory makes its debut here.

For more on the greeting mentioned in this episode, read my earlier essay about “Have you eaten?”.

Curious about more everyday stories from Korea? Browse my visual essay archive and pick a picture that catches your eye.

A quick note on what’s next: At the very end of this recording, you’ll hear me tease our next topic as Korean convenience stores. Right after I turned off the mic and scheduled the episode, I decided to take a fun detour first. Next time, we are following Korea’s meal culture onto film and drama sets with celebrity food trucks and coffee trucks. (Thankfully, Korean convenience stores are open 24/7, so they will still be waiting for us after!)

Korean Words and Phrases in This Episode

안녕하세요, 반갑습니다 (annyeonghaseyo, bangapseumnida) — Hello; glad to see you

평택 (Pyeongtaek) — A city south of Seoul, where my husband worked for LG

서울 (Seoul) — South Korea’s capital

기숙사 (gisuksa) — A dormitory; here, employee accommodation with assigned rooms and some shared facilities

사택 (sataek) — Company-provided housing; often a separate home allocated to an employee, sometimes with their family

가족 같은 회사 (gajok gateun hoesa) — “A company that feels like family”; a phrase that can suggest warmth or raise concerns about unclear expectations

밥 (bap) — Cooked rice; also a meal

밥 먹었어요? (bap meogeosseoyo?) — “Have you eaten?”; also a way to check in and express care

인크루트 (Inkeuruteu) — Incruit, the Korean recruitment platform whose survey is discussed here

회식 (hoesik) — A meal or social gathering with coworkers, often outside regular working hours

구내식당 (gunae sikdang) — An on-site cafeteria, such as one in a workplace

식대 (sikdae) — Meal expenses; in this episode, a meal allowance provided by an employer

식권 (sikgwon) — A meal ticket or voucher, issued on paper or digitally

오늘도 들어주셔서 감사합니다 (oneuldo deureojusyeoseo gamsahamnida) — Thank you for listening today

다음 주에 만나요 (daeum jue mannayo) — See you next week

💬 I’d really love to hear what this brought up for you. Come find me here and share your thoughts, stories, or questions.