• Participation in university career fairs and information sessions to engage directly with overseas talent
• Promotion of Korea’s advanced-industry visa programs, settlement support, and fast-track pathways
• Plans to expand recruitment efforts across major global innovation hubs in North America, Europe, and ASEAN
As major economies face shifting labor dynamics due to trade tensions and supply chain restructuring, competition for global talent in advanced sectors continues to intensify. Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), which established its Global Talent Recruitment Center in February this year, has been accelerating its overseas efforts. In October alone, the agency hosted “Global Advanced Industry Talent Recruitment Fairs” in Silicon Valley and Singapore and has now expanded its outreach to London’s top universities.
On October 27 (local time), KOTRA operated a promotional booth at a life sciences career fair held at University College London (UCL), Imperial College London, and King’s College London, aiming to identify overseas talent for Korea’s advanced industries.
The event promoted Korea’s competitive industrial landscape and job opportunities, while enabling direct communication with overseas job seekers. KOTRA also introduced Korea’s advanced talent support systems, including the K-Tech Pass, which has been in effect since April.
K-Tech Pass is a special visa program designed to attract international talent across eight strategic sectors—semiconductors, displays, secondary batteries, biotechnology, robotics, defense, artificial intelligence, and advanced mobility. The program offers top-tier residency (F-2) status and settlement benefits for qualified experts. KOTRA is responsible for processing and issuing the visa under delegation from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).
At the booth, agency representatives provided one-on-one consultations on Korea’s visa benefits, relocation support, and recruitment demand from Korean companies. Many participants expressed interest, noting that Korea’s robust support policies align with its strength as a global leader in high-tech innovation.
Earlier on October 7, KOTRA held a separate recruitment information session at UCL, presenting insights into job demand in Korea’s advanced sectors and examples of overseas talent successfully working in Korean industries. The event drew significant attention from students specializing in fields such as cybersecurity and mechanical engineering.
The United Kingdom maintains strong capabilities in artificial intelligence and data science, and the three universities co-hosting this career event are ranked within the global top 50 by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). With Korea’s industrial clusters—including semiconductors, AI, and mobility—continuing to expand, these initiatives are expected to open new career paths for UK-based talent.
KOTRA is broadening its recruitment promotion across key innovation hubs worldwide. The agency held sessions for STEM students and employees of global companies in Silicon Valley on October 14, and on October 16 dispatched its first on-site recruitment delegation to Singapore since launching the Global Talent Recruitment Center. The organization plans to strengthen and expand its overseas talent network across North America, Europe, and ASEAN.
KOTRA Executive Vice President Sang-yeob Kang, who oversees the SME support division, said:
“The demand among global talent in innovation hubs like the UK aligns well with Korea’s advanced industry growth. There is a strong foundation for mutual benefit.”
He added,
“We will continue to support highly skilled overseas professionals in building stable careers in Korea, while contributing to the competitiveness of domestic industries.”
