Foreigners at Seoul job fair describe employment barriers — Korea Herald
At the Cheonhajeil job fair in Seoul, South Korea, foreign job seekers reported difficulties finding employment due to the language barrier, a lack of understanding of employment contracts and the need to combine work with childcare. Twenty-five companies, including Emart, McDonald’s Korea and Coupang Fulfillment Services, took part in the event organized by the Yeongdeungpo district administration, Korea Herald reports.
Language as an obstacle
Chinese national Jin Hong Yu, who is married to a Korean man, said she initially wanted to find out what jobs were available to her as a foreigner. According to her, finding employment becomes more difficult when one’s Korean proficiency is not close to that of a native speaker.
Another fair participant, 33-year-old Lee, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym, noted that the difficulty is not limited to pronunciation or intonation. In particular, quickly understanding loanwords can be a problem, as their pronunciation and use in Korean differ from those in the language of origin. She previously worked in duty-free retail and sales and now works at Hanwha Life.
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Contracts and childcare
At the Yeongdeungpo Family Center’s consultation booth, visitors from multicultural families could receive advice and take short tests on labor rights. They were offered questions about unemployment benefits, industrial accident insurance and salary payslips.
Lee said she acquired some knowledge of labor law while working, but understanding employment contracts remains a separate problem even for those who speak Korean well. Jin Hong Yu also emphasized that her previous work in duty-free retail and sales ended too late, making childcare difficult. She is looking for a job with an earlier end to the shift, the possibility of going home on time and days off on public holidays.
Another visitor, Cui Hong Shan, who arrived in South Korea in 2012 and is raising a son, chose work in the insurance sector because of its flexible schedule. At the same time, she noted that the work has become more competitive due to the growing number of workers and more difficult market conditions, so she is considering other employment options.
