My First Job Experience in Korea 🇰🇷✨

When I first arrived in Korea, I never imagined my first real job here would be in the marketing world of Korean skincare ! but that’s exactly what happened! And honestly, I owe it all to word of mouth. A friend of mine who was already working in the industry introduced me to a small but growing company, and just like that, things started moving fast. If there’s one tip I can give: connections matter a lot in Korea. Sometimes even more than your résumé. Working in a Korean office for the first time was definitely a culture shock 😅 The work pace was intense, expectations were high, and there’s a strong sense of hierarchy you have to respect. I remember feeling overwhelmed during the first few weeks, constantly questioning if I was doing things the “Korean way” or unintentionally missing some unspoken rules. People were kind, but everything moved so fast. Meetings at 9 a.m. sharp, feedback coming from every direction, and an obsession with details that made me double-check everything three times. And on top of that, the pressure to adapt to Korean beauty standards and aesthetics in our campaigns added another layer. Since we were dealing with skincare products like serums, creams, masks, SPF. I had to learn not only how to talk about them effectively but also how to understand why Korean consumers love what they love. Trends change super quickly here, and staying updated was part of the job 🧴💫 But here’s the thing: you get used to it. Slowly, I started understanding the dynamics better. I figured out how to navigate between Korean work etiquette and my own personality. I learned that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you show you’re willing to improve. And the more I immersed myself in the skincare industry, the more I started enjoying the process. Testing new products, joining launch meetings, building influencer strategies, seeing campaigns I worked on go live… it was actually exciting 💼🚀 What really helped was realizing that being a foreigner wasn’t a disadvantage, it was an asset. I had a different perspective, a unique way of telling stories, and the ability to communicate with global audiences. Over time, my colleagues saw that and started giving me more space to lead international marketing campaigns. If you’re planning to work in Korea, especially in a field like skincare where trends, beauty ideals, and communication styles are super localized, just know that it will take a bit of time to adjust. But once you do, it’s a super rewarding experience 🌸 Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take initiative, and show curiosity. Koreans really appreciate when you try, even if your Korean isn’t perfect or you’re still learning how things work here. So yeah, it was challenging. But I’d do it again. And honestly, it’s an experience that shaped not just my career, but the way I see beauty, culture, and collaboration 💬🧠