Samsung Launches Second-Half Open Recruitment Amid Hiring Freeze... 19 Affiliates to Hire New Employees

19 Samsung Affiliates Including Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T
Applications Open from August 27 to September 3
Maintaining Open Recruitment System for Nearly 70 Years

Amid a prolonged economic downturn and ongoing hiring freeze, Samsung will launch its open recruitment for the second half of the year starting on August 27, aiming to secure top talent and create jobs for young people.

This recruitment drive will involve a total of 19 affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDI, Samsung SDS, Samsung Bioepis, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung E&A, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Samsung Card, Samsung Securities, Samsung Asset Management, Samsung Medical Center, Cheil Worldwide, S-1 Corporation, and Samsung Welstory.

Applicants can submit their applications on the 'Samsung Careers' recruitment website from August 27 to September 3. The hiring process consists of a job suitability assessment (September), the Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT, October), interviews (November), and a health checkup. Applicants for software positions will take a practical software competency test instead of the GSAT, while those applying for design positions will be selected through a portfolio review.

Samsung stated that it continues to maintain its open recruitment system, providing stable employment opportunities for young people despite uncertain business conditions both domestically and globally. Since taking office, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has emphasized the importance of talent development both inside and outside the company. At an economic organizations and business leaders' meeting held at the Presidential Office on August 19, he also pledged, "Separate from investments in the United States, we will continue to create quality jobs and foster high value-added industries domestically through ongoing investments." As a result, the number of Samsung Electronics employees in Korea grew by about 23%, from approximately 105,000 at the end of 2019 to around 129,000 at the end of June 2025.

Since introducing Korea's first open recruitment system for new employees in 1957, Samsung Group has maintained this practice for nearly 70 years, holding regular recruitment sessions in the first and second halves of each year to ensure predictability. In line with the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee's philosophy of valuing female talent, the company launched open recruitment for female university graduates in 1993, abolished academic background restrictions in 1995 to promote an "open hiring" culture, and introduced the GSAT, its own aptitude test, as part of ongoing recruitment innovation. Samsung has also supported employee competency development by simplifying its job grade system, improving performance evaluation methods, and implementing other HR system changes.

On April 19th, a Samsung Electronics supervisor conducted a preliminary assembly for candidates taking the Samsung Aptitude Test in the first half of the year at the Samsung Electronics Human Resources Development Center (Yongin, Gyeonggi Province). Samsung Group.

Samsung is also running various programs to nurture young talent. Notably, the Samsung Software & AI Academy (SSAFY) offers free education at five campuses in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, Gumi, and Busan. Since its launch in 2019, over 8,000 graduates have found jobs at more than 2,000 companies in Korea and abroad. Recently, the program expanded eligibility to include Meister high school graduates and revamped its curriculum to focus on artificial intelligence (AI). It also offers job-linked internships for Meister high school students, enabling them to join Samsung after graduation.

Samsung is further supporting youth and startups through special recruitment for winners of the National Skills Competition (about 1,600 people from 2007 to 2024), the venture incubation program "C-Lab Outside," and the "Hope Stepping Stone 2.0" initiative for self-reliant young people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.