Samsung Electronics headquarters in Seocho District (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung is intensifying its global talent acquisition efforts, launching a recruitment drive aimed at experienced foreign professionals to bolster its research and development (R&D) competitiveness.
Beginning this week, ten Samsung affiliates—including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, Samsung C&T, Samsung Engineering & Architecture, and Samsung Heavy Industries—have started accepting applications from foreign candidates for experienced roles specifically in R&D.
Applicants must possess at least a Level 3 certification in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). Candidates with a minimum of two years’ relevant work experience post-bachelor’s degree will be given preference. Additionally, those holding or about to receive master’s or doctoral degrees will have their study period recognized as work experience.
This hiring round marks Samsung’s fourth consecutive year recruiting foreign talent for domestic operations. The initiative initially launched in August 2023, involving three affiliates, expanding to ten companies by 2024 and maintaining participation from ten affiliates this year.
Selected foreign hires will undergo a thorough screening process, including document review, interviews, and health assessments, before being offered roles under conditions equivalent to their Korean counterparts at Samsung’s domestic facilities.
Alongside international recruitment, Samsung continues to offer significant employment opportunities for domestic talent. The company plans to announce openings for entry-level positions across its affiliates next month. The recruitment process for new graduates includes job suitability assessments, the Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT), and interviews.
Samsung remains the only one among South Korea’s four major conglomerates to consistently maintain a structured recruitment program for new graduates. The company also regularly conducts hiring for experienced domestic R&D personnel.
Samsung has long pioneered inclusive hiring practices, launching South Korea’s first-ever open recruitment system in 1957. The company became the first to introduce open recruitment specifically for women in 1993, and by 1995, it eliminated academic background restrictions from job application criteria.
In an internal statement following his appointment as Chairman in October 2022, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong emphasized, “Since our foundation, talent and technology have been our most valued assets. Regardless of gender or nationality, we must attract and cultivate individuals who have the potential to transform the world.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
