Seoul Metropolitan Government held the first Job Fair for foreign residents in Korea on Sept. 4 at Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention Center (SETEC). Photo provided by Seoul Global Center.
As Seoul has become a multicultural city, it is facing a “400 thousand foreign resident era” which means one in 25 Seoul residents is a foreign citizen. Considering the increasing foreign population, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) and Seoul Global Center (SGC) held its 1st job fair for its foreign residents on Sept. 4 at Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention Center (SETEC). The event was orginized by the Seoul Business Agency.
As part of the “Dagachi Seoul Master Plan” announced in May, the job fair was held to help foreigners living in Seoul find jobs that fit their aptitude and abilities.
Dagachi Seoul Master Plan, in which dagachi means “together” in Korean, is a blueprint of the city’s foreign resident policy aiming to create a tightly-knit support network in the era of multiculturalism.
With the participation of 64 companies looking to hire domestic or overseas workers, on-the-spot interviews with recruiting companies and career consulting were provided to the particpating foreigners at the job interview zone.
“As a mother of two children as well as a foreigner, it is really hard to find a job,” said Makoungi Nikoletta, a Hungarian who has lived in Korea for five years. “I was able to hold an interview with a company that I was interested in through this job fair. Hopefully, I hope I can get a job through this opportunity.”
Since diverse top companies in areas such as consulting and distribution corporations are planning to recruit approximately 340 people on the spot, SMG is expecting this event to be a trigger for raising the qualitative standard of employment for foreign residents.
Meanwhile, seminars such as special lectures to reinforce employees’ capabilities were held by Soongsil University and Kyung Hee University. Several Universities provided programs such as free resume photo shooting, tips for resume writing, interviews and career aptitude tests.
“I was able to get useful information and realized what I need to work on,” said Femi David, a transfer student from Nigeria. “It was a great opportunity and challenge for foreigners.”
In addition to employment-related programs, booths to discuss matters with lawyers and labor attorneys were provided. 
About 30 volunteers including interpreters were also arranged for the convenience of the participating foreign residents.
The fair provided an opportunity to procure efficient global human resources in addition to supporting foreign residents.
By leading competent foreign residents to find employment in Korean corporation, SMG hopes to contribute to job creation and an increase in exports.
“More than the SGC had expected, about 1,800 people visited the event,” said Kim Tae-kyun, who is in charge of SGC. “Since it was our first time holding a job fair for foreign residents, promotions and operation processes had many parts to be complemented. However, thankfully, the participants were all highly satisfied. For the next year’s fair, we will fix the problems to make it even better.”
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