Hello, this is KOWORK, a recruitment platform for hiring foreign talent.
Did you know that there are currently 2.73 million foreign residents living in Korea—accounting for over 5% of the total population? This number is expected to continue rising, making foreign recruitment no longer an option but a strategic necessity for companies.
According to KOWORK’s “2025 Foreign Talent Employment Survey,” conducted among 100 HR professionals in Korea, more than 7 out of 10 companies are either already hiring or actively considering hiring foreign employees. In fact, 72% of respondents said they are “currently employing or planning to hire foreign workers in the mid- to long-term.”
By industry, demand for foreign hires was highest in ▲ IT/Software/Platform (38%), ▲ Manufacturing (17%), and ▲ Distribution/Retail/Import–Export (13%) sectors. So why are so many companies turning to foreign recruitment?
Why hire foreign talent?
The most common reason cited was “to respond to global market needs” (54%), followed by ▲ “targeting foreign customers in the domestic market” (29%), and ▲ “shortage of local talent” (27%). This indicates that securing foreign talent is becoming increasingly critical as companies expand overseas and face local labor shortages. In fact, 56% of respondents said they have current or past experience working with foreign employees, showing that more than half of Korean companies have firsthand experience collaborating with international staff. The most common roles for foreign hires were: ▲ Overseas Sales/Trade (41%), ▲ Marketing/Content/SNS Management (41%), and ▲ IT Development/Engineering (27%) — all areas where demand for foreign professionals continues to grow.
What are the main challenges?
While foreign recruitment is becoming a new trend in the HR market, it’s not without challenges. The top difficulties companies face when hiring foreign employees include: ▲ Adapting to organizational culture and teamwork, ▲ Language barriers in Korean communication, and ▲ Difficulty assessing job competency, each cited by 40% of respondents. Although administrative tasks such as visa processing were also mentioned, HR professionals noted that evaluating skills and ensuring cultural fit are often bigger concerns during recruitment. As for post-hiring support, 64% of respondents said that “visa and stay management (e.g., extensions)” was the most needed service—suggesting that companies are looking beyond hiring to ensure long-term retention and stable employment of foreign staff.
At KOWORK, we aim to address these challenges and become a platform that connects companies with high-quality global talent while simplifying every step of the process.
If you have any questions about hiring foreign employees or visa matters, feel free to contact us anytime. ☺️
