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Ex-Samsung Employee Finds Peace as Bus Driver, Citing 'No Boss Stress'
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Ex-Samsung Employee Finds Peace as Bus Driver, Citing 'No Boss Stress'

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A 29-year-old former Samsung Electronics employee, Lee Seung-jun, has gained attention for choosing to become a bus driver.
  • Lee cited workplace stress, frequent team leader changes, and discriminatory remarks as reasons for leaving his high-paying corporate job.
  • He now enjoys a horizontal work structure, no boss-related stress, guaranteed retirement at 65, and time for overseas travel, with an initial salary of 50 million won.

Lee Seung-jun, a 29-year-old former Samsung Electronics employee, has found a new path as a bus driver, trading a lucrative corporate career for a less stressful work environment. Lee, who drove the No. 520 bus in Daegu, appeared on the tvN show 'You Quiz on the Block' to share his reasons for the career change.

I had no intention of quitting until my fourth year, but the team leader changed more than three times in the six years I worked there.

— Lee Seung-junExplaining the reasons for his departure from Samsung Electronics.

Lee worked at Samsung Electronics for six years, developing computer language for semiconductor modules. He earned a substantial salary, with his base pay at 50 million won and bonuses reaching 30 million won annually. Despite his financial success and graduating from Hanyang University through a work-study program, Lee felt compelled to leave due to workplace dynamics and anxieties about his future.

I even heard discriminatory remarks like 'Is it because you're from Gyeongsang Province?'

— Lee Seung-junRecounting discriminatory comments he faced at his previous job.

He explained that observing senior colleagues who couldn't stay long at the company made him worry about facing early retirement or redundancy. Frequent changes in team leadership, with more than three leaders during his tenure, also contributed to his decision. Lee recounted experiencing friction with a new team leader and even enduring discriminatory remarks, including being told "Is it because you're from Gyeongsang Province?"

There is a vertical culture like 'chain of command' in corporations, but among bus drivers, there is no such thing, and it is purely a horizontal structure.

— Lee Seung-junDescribing the work environment of bus drivers compared to corporate jobs.

In contrast to the hierarchical structure at Samsung, Lee highlighted the horizontal and stress-free environment among bus drivers. He noted that while he was the only bus driver in his 20s five years ago, there are now six in his company. The job offers a guaranteed retirement at 65 and no risk of dismissal. Lee also mentioned that the starting salary for bus drivers is 50 million won, and he now has the time and financial freedom to travel abroad every one to two months.

There is absolutely no risk of being fired.

— Lee Seung-junHighlighting the job security of a bus driver.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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