The Korea-Japan Future Partnership Foundation said Friday it has held the "1st Japanese Student Korean Corporate Tour Program (Korea-Japan Career Road)" for Japanese exchange students and young people interested in working in Korea.
The foundation organized the program based on the view that expanding youth exchanges will serve as the foundation for future cooperation amid the recent improvement in Korea-Japan relations.
A total of 50 Japanese exchange students and young people participated in the event, visiting Korean corporate sites in two groups divided into manufacturing and information technology (IT)/content sectors. Participants toured company headquarters and major facilities and held discussions with human resources managers and Japanese employees, experiencing Korean corporate culture and the working environment. Briefings on recruitment procedures and job preparation processes were also provided.
Participants showed strong interest in the rapid decision-making and execution capabilities characteristic of Korean companies. Takanami Hayuru, an exchange student at Seoul National University, said, "I think a challenging and dynamic organizational culture is the strength of Korean companies," adding, "I applied because I wanted to understand the actual working environment and the kind of talent they are looking for." Ohara Ayaka, a student at Seoul National University, said, "I want to work at a Korean company to understand consumers in both countries and serve as a bridge connecting Korea and Japan."
The foundation recruited participants from October 30 to November 14, selecting them through a comprehensive review of their motivation to work in Korea and reasons for applying. The selection included not only exchange students but also Japanese youth staying in Korea on working holiday visas.
Participants in the manufacturing sector visited Samsung Electronics Digital City and Kia AutoLand Gwangmyeong. After touring the Samsung Innovation Museum, they held a luncheon meeting with Japanese employees and also toured Kia's production lines and advanced manufacturing processes firsthand. Participants spoke with senior Japanese employees and freely asked questions about job preparation processes and actual work experiences.
Participants in the IT and content sector visited Netmarble and Naver 1784. They experienced the gaming and content industry through a tour of the Netmarble Game Museum and job lectures by current employees, and at Naver 1784, they experienced future-oriented work environments such as robot-friendly buildings and smart work systems.
Lectures by senior Japanese employees working at Korean companies were also held. Participants raised their understanding of working in Korea by listening to talks on resume writing, differences in corporate culture, and actual job experiences.
A foundation official said, "We hope this program will serve as a cornerstone for expanding Korea-Japan youth exchanges," adding, "We will continue to support more Japanese youth so that they can pursue their dreams at Korean companies." The foundation also plans to continue follow-up exchange projects such as online and offline job fairs for Japanese exchange students in the second half of the year.
