[비즈한국] It has been learned that SD Group, including SD Biosensor137310 and its affiliates, is pushing for an internal matchmaking program targeting unmarried employees in their 20s and 30s. While the event is interpreted as a move to strengthen bonds between affiliates after the group recently expanded through aggressive mergers and acquisitions (M&A), complaints are erupting among MZ generation employees who value their privacy, calling the idea anachronistic.
According to industry sources on the 22nd, SD Group is currently recruiting participants for a 2-day, 1-night internal networking camp until the 26th, targeting about 10 unmarried male and female employees each from 5 affiliates: SD Biosensor, Bionote, SD Investment, Eubiologics, and CTC Bio. The program is scheduled to take place at a resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on the 10th and 11th of next month.
An official from SD Biosensor said, "It is an internal program under review to foster interaction among employees of affiliates; nothing has been finalized as it is still in the pre-event stage."
Industry insiders believe the event was planned as part of employee welfare and cultural activities to boost internal cohesion with affiliates like Eubiologics and CTC Bio, which were incorporated through aggressive equity investments by SD Biosensor. However, unlike the stated purpose of an educational workshop, the fact that the target is limited to "unmarried men and women" and the inclusion of phrases like "we hope this becomes a time to find good connections and create good memories" has led to suspicions that it is essentially a company-arranged group blind date. The event name, "SD Signal," also appears to be borrowed from Channel A's popular dating reality show, "Heart Signal."
Recently, such "matching welfare" programs that arrange meetings between unmarried employees can be found in some companies. SK Hynix000660 conducted an internal private matching program called 'The Date,' and Pearl Abyss has fully subsidized marriage agency registration fees for its unmarried employees. Some local governments, such as Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province and Naju in South Jeolla Province, have also held similar meeting programs as measures to cope with population decline.
However, SD Group's approach differs from other companies. SK Hynix protected employee privacy by having interested applicants submit profiles and ideal types for one-on-one blind matching, and Pearl Abyss allowed employees to decide on registration timing, meeting frequency, and conditions themselves while outsourcing the matching to external experts.
On the other hand, because SD Group is pushing for a 2-day, 1-night group retreat, it could be perceived by MZ generation employees who value their privacy as an extension of their work and an uncomfortable "show-off" event. Even internally, voices have emerged saying things like, "They try to pair up people in their 20s and 30s at every company dinner, and now they call this welfare," and "Employees are someone's precious sons and daughters too."
An official from SD Biosensor stated, "Some of the content being mentioned externally differs from the actual intent and facts of the program," adding, "The company is reviewing the matter comprehensively and it is difficult to confirm the details."