Six women among latest batch of new Hyundai Motor manufacturing workers

Hwang Jae-hee, a new technician at the Hyundai Motor plant in Ulsan / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Lee Kyung-min

A total of six female technicians joined Hyundai Motor's assembly line at its Ulsan plant, the automotive conglomerate said Tuesday.

They are among 185 entry-level Hyundai Motor employees set to begin their careers starting in September, after four weeks of training at the automaker's human resources development institute.

The month-long training of the employees will include understanding changes and new developments in the automotive industry and fostering future visions, understanding the importance and quality management of the automobile production processes as well as strengthening the on-site adaptability of workers.

The youngest woman to have joined is Hwang Jae-hee, 19, who has experience in excavator manufacturing.

“I didn't expect to pass the entrance exam because it was much more competitive than you could imagine,” she said. “I couldn't believe it even after I received a letter that I had been admitted. I checked it several times. I am young and I get along with people very well. I think I can become an effective communicator between different generations.”

Other new women employees had experiences in auto manufacturing and aviation maintenance. They have technical certificates proving that they had earned skills after completing coursework and testing to master their respective fields.

They said they will work with a sense of duty, since their jobs are at the final stage of ensuring the safety of the finished vehicles.

“Above all, we want to be needed. We spent time preparing for the entrance exam and interview.

“We hope the new employees bolster and share growth visions as leaders of manufacturing plants, thereby striving to become highly skilled technicians,” a Hyundai official said. The new employees selected this time are technical talents with expertise and skills regardless of gender, and are expected to contribute to providing better quality vehicles to customers."

The 185 new employees secured their jobs five months after they competed against over 100,000 applicants.

Hyundai Motor's salary averaged 96 million won ($72,920) as of 2021. Their retirement age is 60, but they can work one more year as a contract worker.