Cultural understanding, AI skills crucial for international job seekers, say 2026 Global Talent Fair speakers

In the era of AI, a deep understanding of Korean culture has become more critical than ever for international talent seeking employment in Korea, according to industry insiders. 

At the 2026 Global Talent Fair, hosted by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, recruitment experts and foreign employees currently working at Korean companies emphasized that cultural literacy remains the top priority for securing and maintaining a job in the country.

"When Korean companies aim to expand overseas, they look for talent who precisely understand both the target country's culture and Korean culture," Lee Hyun-seung, senior executive director at Careercare, said during a presentation at the event on Monday. Lee added that companies now prioritize candidates who fully comprehend both environments to effectively bridge the gap.

Lee downplayed fears surrounding AI's impact on employment, addressing a common concern among international students that the technology will reduce the need for foreign labor.

"The initial adjustments in the general job market have already been made," Lee noted. "Companies are no longer looking for people to handle simple translation or document work. Instead, they expect candidates who are highly skilled technically, yet possess a profound understanding of the culture."

Nayan Chandra Das, an engineer at Samsung Electronics’ foundry business division, echoed the sentiment, sharing insights from his ten-year journey in Korea.

"Companies look for enthusiastic individuals who genuinely try to experience and integrate into Korean culture," Das said during his presentation on Monday. He noted that during his own hiring process, interviewers placed more emphasis on his eagerness to adapt culturally than on his specific academic research, explaining that companies typically expect new hires to learn from scratch anyway, when they move from academics to corporate culture.

While cultural adaptability remains paramount, proficiency in leveraging AI has also emerged as a nonnegotiable asset.

"Making full use of AI is synonymous with competitiveness in this era," Park Byung-sun, a professor specializing in AI work force development at SK AX, said during a presentation on Tuesday regarding local AI career trends.

Park emphasized that the democratization of AI offers unique leverage for job seekers from nontechnical backgrounds.

"Those who did not major in AI can now leverage their diverse backgrounds and emphasize their ability to apply AI tools to their respective fields," Park said. "Framing this as a multidisciplinary convergence is a far more effective strategy. In fact, those whose majors do not perfectly align with AI might actually hold an advantage if they can show how they bridge that gap."

The Global Talent Fair, hosted annually by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, ran from Monday through Tuesday at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. The fair featured the Job Fair for International Students, a major track specifically designed to help domestic companies recruit foreign talent. 

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]