What does 회식 (hoesik) mean?
- 회식hoesik
Company team dinner
Fine in most situations
회식 (hoesik) means a company or team dinner, usually after work and usually with drinks. It is a big part of Korean office culture.
Where it comes from
It is a Sino-Korean word made of 회 ("gather") and 식 ("eat"), so it means eating together as a group.
How to use 회식
A 회식 is usually a team meal paid for by the company or the boss. It often starts at a barbecue restaurant with soju and can move on to a second round (2차, icha) at a bar or a noraebang.
In the past it was hard to say no to 회식, and long nights of drinking were common. Many younger workers now push back, and many companies keep it shorter, make drinking optional or hold a lunch 회식 instead.
The word itself is neutral. You will hear it often in office dramas, usually with someone groaning that there is a 회식 tonight.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Telling your family you will be late
Quietly asking a coworker
A coworker making plans
Other ways to say it
| Korean | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| 회식하다 | To have a team dinner | Verb form. |
| 2차 | Second round | Moving on to another place after the first round of the night. |
| 점심 회식 | Team lunch | A lighter, daytime version. |
| 회식비 | Team dinner budget | Money the company sets aside for it. |
Questions learners ask
Is hoesik mandatory?
Officially it usually is not, but in many workplaces skipping it often used to be seen as poor teamwork. Attitudes are changing, and it is becoming easier to leave early or not drink.
Who pays for hoesik?
Usually the company or the most senior person pays. Junior staff are rarely expected to pay.
What is 2cha after hoesik?
2차 (icha) means the second round, when the group moves from the restaurant to another place such as a bar or a noraebang.