Any tips for a more international work environment in Korea ?
I was born in Korea but have lived and worked abroad for a significant part of my life. I’m currently working in finance in Korea and am fluent in both Korean and English.
I’ve worked for both Korean companies and multinational companies in Korea, but I’ve found that even some multinational companies operate much like traditional Korean companies once you’re in the Korean office.
The work itself isn’t the issue for me. It’s the workplace culture — hierarchy, 눈치, 꼰대문화, indirect communication, etc. Having spent many years working abroad, I’m more comfortable with a workplace culture based on direct communication, autonomy, and clear boundaries.
I recently met someone from Germany working in Songdo who said her company has many foreign employees, few Koreans, and uses English as the main working language. That sounds much closer to what I’m looking for.
For anyone working in Korea: How can I find companies with a genuinely international work culture, not just a multinational company with a Korean-style local office?
Any recommendations for industries, companies, recruiters, or job-search strategies would be greatly appreciated!