Korea Zinc launches first-half graduate recruitment drive, vows to 'keep securing talent and nurturing technology'

Korea Zinc announced Wednesday it is conducting a "2026 Open Recruitment for New University Graduates" to secure talent that will drive its push to become a global hub for critical mineral supply chains. It is the company's first new-hire recruitment since it announced Project Crucible — a plan to build an integrated smelting complex in Tennessee — late last year.

The drive covers 16 job functions, including technology, research and development, finance, accounting, sales, procurement and production management. Applications are accepted through the company's website until July 3, and candidates who pass the document screening will go through an online aptitude test, an AI competency assessment, interviews and a medical examination before joining the company in early September.

The recruitment process centers on Korea Zinc's five core values: honesty, immersion, flexibility, communication and teamwork. The company said it is continuously refining its internal hiring data-based profiling system to identify candidates who fit the organization. It has also upgraded its recruitment process by introducing an AI competency assessment to evaluate digital skills and problem-solving ability. Global competency and growth potential are additional key criteria, reflecting ongoing initiatives such as Project Crucible.

Korea Zinc has hired an average of several hundred employees per year over the past five years, driven by expansion into new business areas under its Troika Drive initiative and broader global business growth. Currently, 35.5 percent of employees at its headquarters and Onsan Smelter joined within the past five years.

In addition, the company's KZ R&D Center is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2028, which is expected to significantly increase demand for research and development personnel.

In a bid to contribute to quality job creation, Korea Zinc has maintained a consistent talent investment policy — doubling its planned domestic hiring alongside the Project Crucible announcement last year. The company's headcount has grown at an average annual rate of 10 percent, or about 150 employees, over the past five years, rising 49 percent from 1,396 at end-December 2020 to 2,085 last year.

This year, the addition of a first-half recruitment round on top of the regular second-half drive is expected to push the total number of new graduate hires to roughly four times the level seen in previous years.

"As Korea Zinc's role as a global critical mineral supply chain hub grows, we recognize the need for proactive investment in securing global talent, and this open recruitment reflects that judgment," a company official said. "We will continue to do our utmost to secure talent and nurture technical personnel in line with our talent management principles, both to build future growth engines and to fulfill our corporate social responsibilities."

Meanwhile, Korea Zinc also runs an onboarding program to help new hires settle in smoothly. It includes orientation and on-the-job training, mentoring, a Rookies Day event for new employees, and activities to internalize the company's recently established core values and mission.