For Koreans Work is No. 1: Always!

If you ever need a reminder that work is No. 1, always, for Koreans, try holding a housewarming party. We had one scheduled tonight, and granted, our group is somewhat busy with an upcoming event we are putting on, but not that busy. Anyway, they went to report something to the big cheese, who said the bigger cheese wanted it reported to him too the next day. So they are apparently writing up that right now, but not before going out to a restaurant for dinner. I understand that a housewarming party (집들이) is a lengthy thing, but can't they just eat here, and the two people in the group who are involved in the report go back and work on it? Koreans need to relax and not make work the most important thing in their lives. That is why they don't see the end coming, work until they get to be middle-aged, and then get kicked out by the company. All those years of blind loyalty, and now what? Open your eyes! Take care of yourself, not the company! But they ordered a nice plant and had it delivered to our house ahead of time, before it was cancelled. So at least we got something to compensate us for all the preparation...