How do recruitment agencies and headhunters work in Korea?

Recruitment agencies and headhunters are widely used in Korea, especially for experienced and professional roles, and the key thing to understand is that legitimate ones are paid by the employer, not by you, so you should never pay a headhunter a fee to find you a job. Headhunters (헤드헌터) typically work on mid-to-senior and specialized positions; they contact you or you submit a resume, they match you to client companies, and they coach you through interviews and negotiation.

For foreigners, a few channels work best. Wanted is a very popular platform, especially for tech and startup roles, where recruiters and companies reach out. LinkedIn is heavily used by headhunters recruiting bilingual and international talent, so a complete profile attracts them. There are also agencies and boards aimed at foreigners such as People and Job (peoplenjob), and the big local boards JobKorea and Saramin list huge numbers of roles, though mostly in Korean. Before working with a headhunter, check that they are transparent about which company and role they are pitching, do not ask you for money, and do not send your resume to employers without your consent; be cautious with anyone guaranteeing a visa or job for an upfront payment, which is a common scam pattern. It also helps to be clear about your visa status, since your eligibility to work and whether an employer can sponsor a visa (for example an E-7) strongly shapes which roles are realistic. Combining a strong Wanted and LinkedIn presence with one or two reputable headhunters who specialize in foreign or bilingual talent is usually most effective.