Job News KOTRA holds job fair for foreign students

By Ko Dong-hwan

A large-scale job fair dedicated to foreign students in Korea is being held in one of Seoul’s biggest commercial districts.

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency launched the two-day fair at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu on Wednesday.

A total of 129 firms and traders from multicultural families, including 17 start-ups aiming to debut in the global marketplace, are attending the ninth annual event.

Other firms include electronic appliance maker Cuckoo, clothing manufacturer Hansae, international shoe manufacturer Taekwang and pharmaceutical company Daewoong.

More than 2,500 students, mostly from China and countries in Southeast Asia, Central America and Africa, have visited the fair so far.

They were offered one-on-one consultations, listened to company presentations and stories from those with job experience, and sought advice about visas.

KOTRA strategic business team chief Kim Doo-young said foreign students and traders from multicultural families were “valuable assets linking Korea and the outside world” and would help Korean start-ups perform well in global markets.

Companies that hire foreign students will train them for up to three years, including training to familiarize them with Korean company culture, and then send the employees to oversea branches, according to Asia Economy news.