Navigating Kkondae bullying and power distance: generational perspectives and workplace dynamics in South Korean higher education

South Korean workplaces are hierarchical and intergenerational, often leading to a unique form of bullying call Kkondae. Kkondae is a term for older individuals who behave in an authoritarian and dismissive way. This study first explored the experiences of Kkondae bullying among South Korean tertiary educators, focusing on how power distance (PD) influences its impact on job satisfaction and work stress, and how bullying by older vs. younger individuals affects intergenerational dynamics. Adopting a pragmatist approach, this study integrated Mannheim’s Generational Cohort Theory with Hofstede’s Power Distance through an exploratory sequential mixed method design with three generational cohorts of educators (N=23, Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z). Thematic analysis revealed that power distance (PD) played a key role and impacted participants’ workplace experiences. A subsequent survey of 156 Gen Z using PD as a moderator found that high PD moderated the relationships between experiences of Kkondae bullying and workplace outcomes such as job satisfaction and work stress. The integration of Generational Cohort Theory with Hofstede’s power distance dimension makes a significant contribution by offering a comprehensive understanding of Kkondae as a complex socialcultural phenomenon with both positive effects and negative consequences.