Struggling to Find Skilled Laborers Returning from South Korea with Strong Korean Language Skills

FDI companies are seeking laborers who have returned from South Korea for positions such as translators or machine operators, but language skills have become a barrier for many.

At the job fair for workers returning from South Korea and Japan in Hanoi on November 8, Ms. Dương Hồng Vân, in charge of human resources at a company specializing in coating components in Thái Nguyên, was looking for candidates for three positions: translator, accountant, and production manager.

After three hours of interviews, Ms. Vân found a suitable candidate for the accountant position, and was considering a production manager applicant who only had basic knowledge of Korean. As for the translator position, no one met the requirements, despite it being the most anticipated role before heading to Hanoi. The job required someone proficient in languages to teach Vietnamese to Korean employees and teach Korean to the office staff for communication with colleagues. The FDI company employs more than 1,000 workers, many of whom are Korean.

Ms. Vân recorded the details of the Korean language applicants at the recruitment session in Hanoi in November. Photo: Hồng Chiêu

Since two months ago, the company had posted job ads for a translator across various channels but only received average CVs. Some candidates met the company's criteria but lived in Hanoi and could only work if they were provided with transportation to Thái Nguyên for daily commuting. Others had just graduated with a foreign language degree, but their language proficiency did not meet the company's standards.

At the job fair, the company hoped to find a translator, but most of the interviewees were technical workers who had worked in South Korea, only able to communicate with basic phrases. "The company will continue recruiting for this position until the Lunar New Year and hopes to find someone in the upcoming sessions," Ms. Vân said, revealing that the salary for the role ranges from 20 to 30 million VND.

At the next booth, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thúy Hằng, manager at Dongguk Company, which specializes in rubber glove production, was hiring for positions such as workshop manager, electrical equipment management engineer, and office staff. By the morning, she had recorded the information of three candidates for the electrical equipment management engineer role for her superiors to consider. The salary for the position ranges from 10 to 15 million VND, with the job based in Phú Thọ. The job required basic Korean language skills and experience in general management, but the applicants were primarily skilled in machine repair. As for the office staff and workshop manager roles, no suitable candidates were found.

"Some people could agree on the job terms, but their salary expectations didn’t match," she explained, adding that the salary offered was the standard rate in Phú Thọ, making it difficult to offer higher wages comparable to those in large cities like Hanoi.

Ms. Hằng admitted that this recruitment was primarily for technical staff, with job skills being a priority, and knowing Korean was an advantage. Finding employees who are fluent in foreign languages, such as for office or workshop translator roles, would be a challenge, as most returnees from South Korea are blue-collar workers with only basic language skills, making it hard to meet the demands of a translator role.

"It’s very difficult to find someone who is skilled in both Korean and technical skills. Those who know the language usually don’t have the technical knowledge, and vice versa," Ms. Hằng assessed.

Fortunately, Ms. Lê Ngọc Thảo, human resources manager for a South Korean FDI company specializing in ATM assembly in Bắc Ninh, was able to find candidates for the team leader and production supervisor positions. These jobs required technical skills but did not demand advanced foreign language proficiency, just basic Korean. She did not disclose the salary, stating that both parties would negotiate directly. The workers hired would undergo further training to match the company's specific positions and production processes.

According to Ms. Thảo, returnees from South Korea are a valuable labor pool for skilled roles, such as machine operators and technicians in production lines—positions that require skills that fresh university graduates in Vietnam may not possess. However, for positions requiring strong foreign language skills, very few candidates are able to meet the standards.

Workers returning from South Korea and Japan receive job counseling at the employment exchange event in Hanoi. 

According to the Overseas Labor Center (Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs), around 7,000 laborers return from South Korea and Japan each year. While official statistics on how many find employment after returning are not yet available, some of these individuals have applied to FDI companies from South Korea and Japan. Companies expanding their operations in northern Vietnam are seeking workers who are proficient in both job skills and language. The latest job fair, held in early November, connected 45 FDI companies with 1,300 positions, primarily in production management, translation, interpretation, CNC technology, and electronics manufacturing.

However, according to managers, the biggest barriers for returnees are language and job skills—key challenges in the process of finding new employment.

Đào Ngọc Hùng, from Nghệ An, who worked in South Korea for several years under the EPS program, shared that returning home will remain the choice for most laborers working abroad. Whether starting a business or seeking opportunities in FDI companies, they need to focus on learning foreign languages and strengthening their professional knowledge while still abroad.

Although he had passed the university entrance exam, Mr. Hùng chose to work abroad. Before leaving for South Korea, he studied technical engineering at a college to gain foundational knowledge. In the early days, he struggled with the language, but his technical knowledge allowed him to operate machines, and he was eventually promoted to team leader, managing a workshop of nearly 30 Vietnamese and Korean workers. Afterward, he passed Korean language proficiency exams and started his own business importing South Korean electronics after returning to Vietnam.

"Learning Korean while also acquiring expertise in another field, rather than just working eight hours a day, is key," he shared, offering advice to others who might pursue a university degree through online programs.

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