Pros
Location: The office is located in central London, in a beautiful building. People: Aside from the CEO and a few others, the team at Mirae is friendly, intelligent, helpful and social. The after-work outings were excellent opportunities to bond and get to know each other better. we had great laughs and the true connections were born.
Cons
Office based, long hours (8 am to 5 pm) with minimal benefits—just 20 days of holidays. There's no standardized package for all staff; benefits like PMI, 25 days of holidays, or a permanent contract are only available if you negotiate well from the start. There's zero flexibility on hours, and even being a minute late due to train delays or childcare issues results in reprimands from the CEO. Homeworking is restricted until after six months, and even then, you're allowed just one day, which isn’t of your choosing. A significant divide exists between Korean and non-Korean staff, with a clear 'us vs. them' mentality. The CEO only interacts with Korean employees, who are treated more favourably than their non-Korean counterparts. The CEO's authoritarian leadership style, marked by micromanagement and constant surveillance, is mentally exhausting. The culture is deeply toxic, with everyone on the edge - you can feel the tension in the air (specially if ceo is in the bad mood); and women, especially those with childcare responsibilities, are targeted. To stay or advance in the company, you need to "play the politics" game, regardless of your job performance. However, if you're Korean, you'll receive job opportunities and career progression regardless.