[Report] "Guaranteed by Major Corporations"... Industry Leaders Step Up to Support Partner Companies

Inside the 'Coexistence Job Fair'
KEF Leads an All-Out Public-Private Effort for Youth Employment
Promising SMEs Shine as Major Partners to Leading Conglomerates

"They say the job market is getting narrower by the day, so I came here hoping to receive some good energy from fellow job seekers who are struggling just like me." (Job seeker, Mr. A)

On the morning of April 28, the area in front of the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul was packed from early on with young people in business attire and company representatives. At the '2026 Korea Coexistence Job Fair' organized by the Korea Economic Cooperation Federation (hereafter referred to as KEF), the atmosphere was heated with passion as job seekers chased their dreams despite the tough reality of the employment crisis.

At the ‘2026 Korea Coexistence Job Fair’ held at the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul on the 28th, visitors are looking at the job announcement board. Photo by Jin-young Kim

"Guaranteed by Major Corporations"... Industry Leaders Step Up to Support Partner Companies

The most notable feature and significance of this job fair is that, for the first time, 15 of Korea's major conglomerates—including Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, and LG—gathered in one place to provide full support for their partner companies' recruitment efforts. While large companies have often held their own recruitment events, it is unusual for them to take the lead directly in helping their partners secure outstanding talent.

An executive from one of these major corporations explained, "Having excellent talent join our partner companies directly translates into increased competitiveness for our own products and services. We believe that supporting our partners with their recruitment challenges is the true beginning of coexistence, and that’s why we came together for this event."

Visitors are looking around the booths of participating companies at the ‘2026 Korea Win-Win Employment Fair’ held at the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul on the 28th. The Korea Economic Association

This year’s job fair was organized as the largest ever, with about 700 companies participating both online and offline. Over the two days, April 28–29, the number of pre-registrants alone is expected to reach approximately 5,100—more than double last year’s figure. On site, about 170 domestic and international companies—including LS Electric, Hanmi Pharm, SK Shieldus, and Starbucks—set up booths to offer recruitment consultations. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) highlighted which major conglomerate they partner with, drawing the attention of visitors.

Companies supplying materials, components, and equipment for the semiconductor value chains of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix also rolled up their sleeves to attract STEM talent. For example, CMTX, which was listed on KOSDAQ last year, set up their booth for the first time this year and showcased their status as a first-tier vendor for Samsung Electronics. CMTX manufactures consumable silicon parts used in semiconductor etching processes and is the only first-tier partner in Korea for TSMC as well.

The HR manager at Com2uS is conducting a corporate recruitment information session. Photo by Jinyoung Kim

Changbum Kim, Executive Vice President of KEF, commented, "Among the partners of major corporations, there are many outstanding companies that may not be well known to the public but deliver strong results. We hope that the support from these large corporations will encourage job seekers at the fair to also visit the booths of these promising SMEs, creating a trickle-down effect."

After consulting at a booth for a major corporation’s partner, a young attendee said, "Although I wasn’t familiar with this SME before, knowing that companies like Samsung or LG trust and work together with them gives me a lot of confidence."

From 1:1 Coffee Chats to Real Interviews... Practical Opportunities Born from Coexistence

The fair was filled with programs designed to break down invisible walls between large and small companies. The 1:1 Coffee Chat area, where current employees from leading companies like SK, Kakao, and Toss offered practical insights, was packed with young people eager to gain hands-on know-how. In the Focused Interviewer Zone, candidates faced intense interviews that could lead directly to employment. To make the job fair even more effective, services such as business suit rentals and hair & makeup stations were set up in the corners of the venue to help candidates prepare for interviews.

A current developer who participated as a career mentor said, "Watching the new hires these days, I can really feel that the door to employment has become even narrower. I hope this event offers a chance to share real on-the-job experiences and provide mentoring that truly helps with career paths."

1:1 Coffee Chat Booth with 10 Current Employees from Major Corporations as Career Mentors. Photo by Jinyoung Kim

Efforts to lighten the mood of what could have been a serious and heavy event were also apparent. Throughout the venue, job seekers could be seen eagerly clutching stamp cards as they hurried between company booths. This was thanks to the 'Stamp Tour Event,' where participants could earn stamps by visiting company booths and completing missions. Those who completed the entire tour received raffle tickets for practical prizes such as iPads, Starbucks, and Olive Young gift cards. As a result, the faces of visitors—once tense about the job hunt—were soon filled with excitement and anticipation at the prospect of winning.

Programs targeting Millennials & Gen Z further energized the job fair. LED photo zones featuring nationwide landmarks known for bringing good luck—such as the Yeonjudae at Gwanaksan Mountain—were packed with job seekers eager to take commemorative photos. Unique experiences such as creating personal PR business cards highlighting their strengths brought moments of joy to young people tired from the rigors of job hunting.

Visitors attending the Win-Win Employment Fair hosted by the Korea Economic Cooperation Federation on the 28th are participating in a prize event. Photo by Kim Jinyoung

KEF plans to continue the excitement of this offline event online. Through the recruiting platform Saramin, the online job fair will run until July 31, providing recruitment opportunities from over 700 companies to job seekers who couldn’t attend in person.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.