Corea is no longer unknown by others. As time goes by, foreigners are getting to know Corea. One reason is the 88’ Olympics, at that time many people knew Seoul, but did not know Corea. Since then many Corean people have found success and achievement abroad. For example, let’s start with art and music; pianist Baek gun-woo, vocal musician Jo Su-mi, violinist Jeong kyung-hwa and conductor Jung myung-hoon. The fine arts also has Baek Nam-jun. Kim se-jung is a sports star. Many of these artists are called patriots and said to enhance national glory. However, Corea is famous for science by producing semiconductors, making Automobiles, and bio-production. These industries have many prominent and famous scientists. And now, many Corean people are achieving success in other countries. For example, university students want to get a job abroad, it is a natural view. Foreign cooperation is not easy to enter but many Coreans approved entering and working in this type of job. Also, Corean Foreign Company Employees are a growing community broadening a Corean network and sharing useful information among employees at multinational companies. Out of the competitive workplace, this provides opportunities to make friends with various people from young workers in their 20s or 30s and executives in their 40s or 50s in a friendly environment. We have been growing thanks to each member’s enthusiasm and we are sure that we will further expand as a socializing place for foreign company employees.
KOFEN consists of regional clubs, study groups on occupations; computer skills or foreign languages, including English and Japanese; and small groups for leisure sports, music or movies. In addition, recruiting information is provided by headhunters and human resource managers of multinational companies. This type of group wants to help people find this type of job.
Other cases allow people to go abroad and directly find jobs.
In the case of Jeong Don-gyun (JR Kyushu), he is the first foreign man and the first man in Corea to join Kyushu JAPAN RAILRORD (JP). He entered into APU (Asia Pacific University) in 2002 and graduated in 2006. He lived in Tokyo for 1 year and got a JLPT 1 level. He gained framing approval to what the cooperation wanted and its way of growth. Now, through study and training, he has broadened the Corea-Japan railroad market. He said ‘Maybe, the biggest advantage is I will show my own project in detail’. He has choosen to make a Corea voyage package project, so he can overcome his weak point that he is foreigner.
A person should be adaptalve at any time, anywhere like a chameleon, as the old saying goes, “when in Rome act as the Romans”. So, in Corea, you have a Korean mind and in Japan, have a Japanese mind. Be open minded and realistic. Chance is waiting for you. There are challenges like a victory for the World Cup. Be ready for them, then you can get a job with a foreign enterprise.
By Nam, Goong Min
International Reporter