Conglomerates to hire roughly same number of employees in H2 as last year

South Korea's leading business groups plan to hire roughly the same number of new employees in the second half as last year, despite lingering economic uncertainties and sluggish domestic market conditions, corporate observers said Monday.

Companies have been diversifying their recruitment system to pick employees best fit for their different needs in bolstering competitiveness and long-term growth.

Samsung Group, the country's largest chaebol, or family-run conglomerate, plans to hire up to 5,000 workers in the coming months that will push up the total college graduates it will hire for 2014 to around 9,000.

The group that includes Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest maker of mobile phones, said it is looking for individuals with balanced and logical comprehension abilities.

Hyundai Motor Group, the country's No. 2 chaebol, is looking for people with good language skills and analytical powers who can think in a logical manner, and are able to quickly organize data.

It will hold a five-hour-long test to check such qualifications.

The business group, which counts Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. as its flagship affiliates, said it will add 2,460 workers to its payroll in the second half, with 1,000 to be employed by Hyundai Motor.

SK and LG groups, the country's third- and fourth-largest chaebol, said they will hire 1,000 and 2,000 new employees in the second half, with steel giant POSCO to hire a total of 3,400 workers in the July-December period.

SK said it will hold a "talent festival" next month to determine the capability of applicants without looking at academic background. It said extra points will be given to those who make presentations on topics that can highlight the applicant's potential.

LG said it will allow job seekers to apply for positions in three different affiliates.

POSCO said it will give extra points to people who can speak three or more languages, have degrees in engineering and tried to set up their own business.

Others such as Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer and total system integrator, said it will begin the process of hiring some 1,000 new workers up until the end of 2015. It recently won a contract to develop civilian and military choppers by the government, and the added manpower will also permit KAI to develop the South Korean Air Force's next generation KF-X project. The total new recruitment is equal to 30 percent of the company's current workforce, and 40 percent of the new employees will be skilled engineers and technicians.

Besides these companies, Korean Air and Hanjin Shipping Co. said they will hire 200 and 40 workers, respectively, in the coming months while Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. plans to add 250.

Dongbu Group, currently undergoing restructuring efforts, said it will hire 350 in the second half as part of its strategy to move forward and strengthen its core business areas. (Yonhap)