What Does 회식 (Hoesik) Mean in Korean?
After this page, you can recognize 회식 (Hoesik) when you hear or read it, and use it naturally in conversation.
10-Second Answer
회식 (hoesik) is a Korean company dinner — a team or department outing, usually involving food and alcohol, meant to build camaraderie outside the office. Traditionally it could stretch across multiple venues in one night (1차, 2차, 3차 — "first round, second round..."), though attitudes toward mandatory, late-running hoesik have been shifting, especially among younger employees.
Quick Examples
오늘 회식 있어요.
oneul hoesik isseoyo.
We have a company dinner today.
2차 갈까요?
icha galkkayo?
Shall we go to the second round?
차 (cha) counts "rounds" — moving to a new venue rather than staying put all night.
The Multi-Round Structure (1차, 2차, 3차)
| Round | Typical activity |
|---|---|
| 1차 (first round) | The main meal — often Korean BBQ (삼겹살) with soju |
| 2차 (second round) | Moving to a bar or different food spot, often lighter and more relaxed |
| 3차 (third round) | Optional — noraebang (karaoke), another bar, or calling it a night |
Not every hoesik goes all three rounds — but the concept of physically moving between venues across a single night out is a distinctly common Korean pattern, tied to the same social, shared-experience instinct behind samgyeopsal and chimaek.
Etiquette at a Hoesik
All the drinking and dining etiquette covered elsewhere on this site is in full effect, often MORE strictly than usual: two-handed pouring for seniors, waiting for the most senior person to start eating or make a toast, and generally showing engagement rather than checking out early — hierarchy is especially visible at a hoesik because the whole team/department is present at once.
Changing Attitudes
Mandatory, frequent, or very late-running hoesik has become a real point of generational tension in Korean workplace culture — many younger employees and increasingly companies themselves have pushed toward optional, shorter, or lunchtime versions (점심 회식) instead of the traditional late-night multi-round format.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1 — Treating it as purely optional/casual
Traditionally, hoesik carried real (if unofficial) expectations to attend — though this varies a lot by company and is loosening over time.
Mistake #2 — Leaving before the senior-most person signals it's over
Timing your exit around the most senior attendee is still a common courtesy in more traditional workplace settings.
Mini Quiz
1. What does 회식 refer to?
2. What does 2차 mean in the context of a night out?
3. How have attitudes toward hoesik been shifting?
Related Knowledge
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Start today's study →Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.