S. Koreans dread year-end drinks parties

S Korea: A majority of office workers in hard-drinking South Korea dread the customary year-end drinks parties or banquets hosted by their bosses, according to a survey seen Thursday.

A poll of 1,035 employees by recruitment portal Job Korea found that almost 70 percent are tired of the traditional binge drinking to mark Christmas and the New Year.

Some 21.5 percent of respondents said they had no choice but to attend the drinking parties and only 8.6 percent said they looked forward to them.

Asked which parties they disliked the most, almost 61 percent cited formal events with a hierarchical atmosphere which makes it impossible to relax. Some 55.6 percent took exception to gatherings featuring endless rounds of drinking.

Asked what they would prefer to do, about 60 percent of respondents suggested going to a concert or engaging in some other enjoyable social activity with co-workers.

The survey was conducted in late November. It did not give a margin of error or specify the age groups of those questioned.

South Koreans in general drink heavily at work parties and social gatherings. According to health ministry statistics, 14.9 percent of the population drinks excessively compared with a world average of 11.5 percent. AFP