Conceptualising Intergenerational Dialogue: An Epistemological Framework through the Case of Korean Workplace Culture.

A lack of understanding between generations increasingly generates social challenges in contemporary workplaces, hindering knowledge transfer, the maintenance of social ties, and the continuity of cultural practices (Burmeister & Deller 2016). As generational shifts become more visible, differences in values, expectations, and interpretations of work often lead to tension and conflict between older and younger generations, prompting growing interest in intergenerational dialogue as a means of fostering more inclusive and sustainable futures (Guajardo et al. 2025). However, dominant approaches to generational dynamics frequently rely on generalised categories that overlook the cultural and historical contexts in which generational perspectives are formed. Drawing on a qualitative case study of Korean workers, this article conceptualises intergenerational dialogue not merely as a communicative exchange but as an epistemological framework through which values, and cultural assumptions are made visible, examined, and reconstructed. Intergenerational tensions are particularly salient in Korea, where rapid socio-economic transformation following the Korean War has produced pronounced generational contrasts. While younger generations increasingly challenge workplace practices shaped by Confucian values, these shifts reflect transformations grounded in enduring cultural logics rather than a complete rupture from the past. The analysis is grounded in the Gestion et Société approach within the interpretive research tradition, which views culture as historically rooted yet continuously redefined through interaction. Based on 22 semi-structured interviews with Korean workers from different generational cohorts, the study adopts an emic and culturally sensitive perspective, using interviews as an analytical device to reveal divergent interpretive frameworks and underlying cultural references. The findings show that, despite generational differences, common ground can be identified when intergenerational dialogue is designed as a reflexive, context-sensitive process that surfaces assumptions and enables the co-construction of shared meanings. By moving beyond stereotypes, this study contributes to a decolonised and contextually grounded understanding of intergenerational dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]