CJ Olive Young Tops List of Most Desired Companies to Work For, Surpassing SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics

CJ Olive Young Tops List of Most Desired Employers
Salary, Brand Recognition, and Global Prospects Drive Popularity

CJ Olive Young was selected as the company that job seekers and employees most want to work for.

According to the "Company of the Year" survey conducted by Jinhaksa Catch with 3,079 job seekers and employees, 20% of all respondents expressed a desire to join the company. This marks a two-place rise from third place last year.

CJ Olive Young operating in downtown Seoul. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

A representative from the survey explained, "The K-beauty boom, sales growth, and plans to enter the U.S. market next year have all contributed positively by strengthening global competitiveness."

SK Hynix ranked second with 15%, followed by Naver in third place with 8%. Hyundai Motor Company and Samsung Electronics tied for fourth with 7% each, and CJ CheilJedang ranked sixth with 5%. Kakao Pay and Amorepacific shared seventh place, while Samsung Biologics and Hanwha Aerospace were ranked ninth and tenth, respectively, making up the top ten.

The most important factor for job seekers when choosing a company was "salary and compensation," cited by 48% of respondents. This was followed by brand recognition (21%), suitability to their major or area of interest (11%), work-life balance (10%), organizational culture and atmosphere (5%), job security (4%), and social value or ESG (1%).

By industry, the traditionally strong semiconductor and display sector garnered the most attention with 38%, followed by beauty and cosmetics at 10%-driven by the growth of K-beauty-and defense and aerospace at 9%. This trend was also reflected in the company preference survey, confirming the status of CJ Olive Young and Amorepacific as leading companies in the beauty industry.

A Catch representative stated, "Interest in K-beauty companies has surged, particularly among Generation Z and job seekers," adding, "Global expansion, sales growth, and brand competitiveness appear to have had a significant impact on their choices."