996 Working Hour System in China

At 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, the office building in Shenzhen, China, was still brightly lit. The term “996” refers to a common work schedule in many Chinese companies—working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. It has become a symbol of poor work-life balance and has sparked debates about labor rights and burnout in China’s corporate world.

I think it’s same in Korea. Once you become a salaried worker, you’re expected to spend almost all your time and energy on your job. I’ve officially developed an obsession—I can’t go more than ten minutes without checking my work phone.