KR — ZDNet Korea

Card News: Is Ignoring Work KakaoTalk Messages After Hours Unprofessional?

SoftwareNovember 6, 20262 min read

Is it rude to skip work chats after you clock out? Five AI panel experts say the answer is "yes, but only under some conditions." The story looks at laws in other countries, a survey-style view of work time on phones, and ideas for fixing the problem.

What happened

A Korean tech news site asked five experts whether not answering work chats after hours makes a worker unfaithful. All five reached the same answer: it depends on conditions. The article uses this debate to show that the "after-hours message" problem is becoming a policy issue in several countries.

Laws in other countries

France was the first country in the world to make after-hours contact a legal issue, in 2017. Companies with 50 or more workers must agree with employees on how to switch off work contact. Australia joined this trend in 2024. In Korea, interest grew in October 2026 after a debate over firing workers for not replying to text messages.

Key numbers

Office workers spend an average of 11 hours a week working on their smartphones.
That is more than 1.5 hours a day.
France passed its rule in 2017. Companies with 50 or more workers must set rules together with staff.
Experts say it can take 3 to 5 years for a boss's habits to change, even after a law is passed.

Why it matters

The experts say the real problem is not the phone itself. It is the belief that answering fast means you are hardworking. If that view does not change, blocking calls and messages just moves the pressure to phone calls or office visits. Unclear rules about what is urgent, and bosses who contact staff at any hour, can lead to burnout and lower work results.

What to watch

Whether the panel's first idea is adopted: making it official that not replying after hours can hurt a worker's job review.
Whether the second idea is tried: a joint committee of managers and workers that defines what counts as urgent.
Whether more countries follow France and Australia with new laws.
Whether companies can change the habit of judging hard work by how fast someone replies.

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