By Honorary Reporter Gloria Liew from Singapore
Photos = Gloria Liew

The 2024 Job Fair for International Students is held on May 23 at Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District.

The 2024 Job Fair for International Students on May 23 was held at Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District and organized by Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Global City Foundation, Busan Immigration Office and Busan Economic Promotion Agency. 

The event featured a visa briefing, on-site recruitment, color and makeup styling consulting, and a booth to take ID photos. Over 20 companies conducted on-site interviews and counseling.

Visa briefing session

A highlight of the event was the F-2-R visa, which is geared for international graduates with an associate's or higher degree from Busan's colleges or universities. Qualifying for the visa requires living, working or setting up a business in city districts suffering from declining population such as Dong-gu, Seo-gu and Yeongdo-gu. 

The purpose of this visa is to meet industry needs and demand for foreign labor in such areas. At the fair's briefing on this topic, immigration staff explained the conditions and processes of applying for the F-2-R to those seeking long-term residence and jobs in Busan.

Foreign students could apply directly to the some 20 companies at the fair with their resumes and cover letters, connecting with workplaces that have or are willing to hire them. Companies experienced in hiring international staff are more willing to hire such students based on positive precedents.

The job fair attracts hordes of students seeking employment in Korea's No. 2 city.

Printers at the fair allowed the students to submit their resumes and cover letters. With rising global interest in Hallyu (Korean Wave), the number of international students in the country's major cities like Busan is increasing, thus events like this allow such students to gain access to on-site recruitment and companies to find needed workers.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.