Finding internship in South Korea.

Hello everybody,

I'd like to share my experience, and the experience of some of my friends who did a 6-month internship in South Korea.

First of all, let me introduce myself briefly, I am a student from a French University (actually what we call "Grande École" but that does not matter for the next of the article). I came in Korea for my first time in January 2009 to study one semester at KAIST as an exchange student. My major is about Graphic Rendering and AI.

In order to pursue my studies, we have a 6-month internship to achieve. However it is usually difficult to find it since we have to do this internship after only 3-year studying, so we do not have so many abilities and experiences.

Although I know it would be hard, I wanted to find this internship in South Korea. Three of my friends in Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering field also found their internships in South Korea. Let me share with you some tips to find such of opportunity in Korea.

Let me say again, before I go ahead, that finding a long internship (not summer school) for a foreigner without speaking Korean is really a difficult task, and you cannot be sure to success it. Furthermore finding this internship from outside of Korea is doable, but even more difficult.

Secondly, once you make your mind to find an internship in Korea, start to prepare all the classical tool you will need : Resume, Cover Letter, Statement of Purpose, Letter Of Recommendation ... If you can have some translation for these documents, it is not that bad since it can help sometimes to have a first contact.

Then if your are in South Korea : networking is the key. I do not know anybody who get his internship without networking. So have always with you a copy of your resume, try to say around of you that you are looking for an internship...

Also, start to spread the words on the different forums, community and so on related to the business in Korea.

Try also to send mail to different company related to your field of competences. But do not send just one mail ^ ^ Try to call them, try to find some people working there and so on.

Especially Korean people, they probably do not understand well what does mean a 6-month internship. So always explain that your are looking for a 6-month job to train your skills. Try to find some argument to make people think that they need you, even if they did not need intern at a first glance.

Here is also a really good website to find internship in South Korea: http://www.kopra.org/

And finally a clue about the stipends : Usually it is between 600.000 KRW and 1.500.000KRW depending of your experience, and the company. However, some companies give nothing, so do not be surprised about it.

I hope this can help, and fill free to add more advice to this discussion. Since I am again looking for an internship starting in January 2011, I will listen to it carefully.

Tags: advice, internship, job

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Permalink Reply by Valentin JANIAUT on March 6, 2012 at 2:48pm

Hello Ruby,

You should probably gave us more information so we can help you more, it is really different to find a summer internship than a 6-month internship. It is also different to find internship on technical side or marketing side.

Obviously, fluency in Korea will also be a great help for you.

With more information about your profile, it is going to be easier for us to help you.

Regards,

Permalink Reply by Ruby Maurandya Tobing on March 7, 2012 at 9:48pm

Hi.. Thank you for the reply.

I am quite new with this web , so I am trying to fill out the information as best I can.

Anyway, I am currently in my 3 semester of Business Informatics. I would like to find a 6 month internship, because I would like to stay longer in Korea. But if it's only for summer, i guess it's okay.

I would like to find internship more in business side rather that IT side. Because there i would be focusing for my master thesis.

I am not that fluent with Korean, I learned them few years back. I have experience working under Korean boss in  Korean Company for 2 years. I know I lost lots of my korean, but I can say that I can undersstand conversation in Korean. As for reading and writing my hangeul is very slow.

It would be so kind of you if you could help me.

Thank you and wish you a nice day.

Cheers!

Permalink Reply by Valentin JANIAUT on March 10, 2012 at 11:34am

Hello Ruby,

As I previously said, finding an internship in Korea without some network here is a challenging task. Try to find the list of company which could have relevant position for you and focus your effort on those companies. Try to have a look at the European Chamber of Commerce for instance.

Also, start to have an online resume somewhere and advertise yourself, especially in Korea if you can, on social network (twitter, linkedIN...), you might get some attention if you are a westerner able to speak Korean.

Good luck :)

Permalink Reply by Colby Hepner on March 7, 2012 at 1:19pm

Hello Everyone,

My name is Colby and I have studied in Korea before in Daejeon for 6 months and will be returning to Seoul National University and Hanyang University for the fall and winter terms. My major is International Studies concentrating in Business and Trade. My Korean skill is low intermediate but I am working on improving it everyday. I was wondering what are my prospects in finding and obtaining a 4-6 month internship in Korea between March and September? Many of the internships I see are more science and technology related (like the ones at KAIST) so I'm curious what is available for someone with a major like mine?

When should I begin to inquire about such positions?

I about to start a 6-month internship at the World Trade Center of Philadelphia so I'm hoping that can aid in finding a position

Any suggestions from you guys?? I would really appreciate it! 감사합니다^^

Permalink Reply by Valentin JANIAUT on March 7, 2012 at 1:26pm

Hello Colby,

Indeed, it seems that it is easier to find offer in engineering field, probably since young student can be quickly valuable for the company, they are usually able to produce value quickly.

However, with your experience in Korea, you probably already got some network and can understand a bit more about what is possible to find here, what are the job a guy with your major would do.

Basically, you should try to leverage your english-skill and knowledge about international environment, some company might be interested to get a hand on some international project and might see some potential in your profile.

Unfortunately, it is highly possible that it will not be public offer, you will have to advertise yourself, develop your network and so on ... during your stay in Seoul.

Check also here, there is time to time offers which could interest you.

Good luck ^ ^ 

Permalink Reply by Colby Hepner on March 7, 2012 at 1:33pm

Thank you very much for quick response! Yes, I know its going to be somewhat of an uphill battle in trying to obtain such a position but I am determined to do as much networking as possible.

Do you have any knowledge about teacher to student relationships in Korea in terms of helping to acquire internships? I know in America its very common to approach teachers to see if they know of anything but I don't want to overstep boundaries if this is not accepted in Korean culture. My hope is that professors I will have at SNU will be willing to assist me.

Also, would I have a better chance trying to obtain an internship at an American company in Korea or are they few and far between?

Thanks in Advance!

Permalink Reply by Valentin JANIAUT on March 10, 2012 at 11:38am

Hello Colby,

To reply to your question, it is not so uncommon for Professor to help their student to find internship position here, if you are member of their labs, if you are just exchange student it is more seldom since they do not see any interest for them to send you to a company!

However, if you have a good relationship with your professor at the SNU, I am pretty sure they might be able to assist you. It will really depend of your skill to get close with professor (which might be difficult).

Obviously, finding an internship in an foreign company in Korea will be much easier. Finding your way toward a Korean company will depend of your Korean skills and your network.

Good luck :) And keep us inform about your experience, that's extremely valuable for other members here.

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