Y-Day at YLW: Building a Culture of Inquiry and Team Spirit
Wan Seok Yoon, Global Content Manager
Since its founding in 1993, YoungLimWon Soft-Lab (YLW) has consistently held company-wide quarterly gatherings. Recently, on October 8th, about 400 employees gathered at the Sky Light Hall near YLW’s headquarters in South Korea. Previously known as “Techno Day,” this event was rebranded as “Y-Day” from this year onward.
The name “Y-Day” not only represents the “Y” in YoungLimWon Soft-Lab but also evokes the pronunciation of “Why,” symbolizing the company’s commitment to fostering a culture of curiosity and inquiry. This new name was selected through an internal contest among employees.
This inaugural Y-Day opened with an awards ceremony, celebrating employees who received high peer ratings in the “永 ([jʌŋ])-Way” evaluation, an initiative designed to promote and embody YLW’s core values and culture.
EverAsk, a low-code mobile app built with YLW’s Flextudio platform, was created to support an open and engaging corporate culture, allowing employees to freely ask questions and communicate. During the lead-up to Y-Day, employees submitted various questions via EverAsk, and on the day, each division’s directors(C-Suites) responded directly. This open dialogue covered topics such as ongoing overseas projects, YLW’s stock performance, and employee benefits. The lively Q&A demonstrated that such a culture could inspire fresh energy in other companies, too, helping to break rigid organizational norms.
Following the Q&A, a guest speaker gave a presentation on organizational culture, highlighting how many companies strive to foster good workplace cultures through creative initiatives and practical applications. Organizational culture plays a crucial role in achieving intangible corporate results, largely driven by collaboration rather than competition. As such, organizational culture is vital for a company’s sustained growth, giving everyone a chance to reflect on what truly makes a positive workplace culture.
The highlight of Y-Day was a lucky draw, where Samsung Galaxy Buds and Apple AirPods were given away as prizes through an interactive online game. With such desirable items, the lucky draw saw two fortunate winners.
Young Bum Kwon, CEO of YLW, concluded the event by announcing plans to continue the CEO-led book discussions next year, fostering continuous learning across the company.
After the official program, teams gathered for group dinners—a unique aspect of Korean work culture. Popular menu items often include Korean BBQ, sashimi, jokbal (braised pork hocks), or casual family dining options, with Korean BBQ being a favorite. What’s your go-to choice for team dinners?
