K-beauty's global push sparks unprecedented hiring race

K-beauty companies that have expanded onto the global stage are launching large-scale hiring drives, with players ranging from industry giants to indie brands all stepping up their search for talent.

According to industry sources, CJ Olive Young recently opened its second-half new-hire recruitment. The standout feature of this round is an expanded global track, now rebranded as the "Global Insight" category, which adds four more global roles compared to the first half and introduces a presentation assignment. Candidates must hold a speaking-proficiency score in English, Japanese, Chinese or another foreign language, have lived in a specific language region for at least four years, or hold a bachelor's degree or higher earned abroad. The push for global talent underscores the company's drive to grow its overseas business after entering the US beauty platform market directly this year.

The recruitment covers a total of 31 positions across the standard and Global Insight tracks. The exact headcount has not been disclosed, but the round is expected to be the largest in the company's history. CJ Olive Young opened its first and second US stores in California in late May and June, and plans to expand to five US stores by the first half of next year.

APR, the top K-beauty company by market capitalization, has been running its second-half new-hire recruitment since Sept. 1. The drive covers 32 positions across eight divisions, including product planning, marketing and design. On the beauty side, the company is hiring marketing staff not only for the United States but also for Europe, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other Chinese-speaking markets. Recruitment for experienced hires in the biotech and medical device sectors — areas APR has newly entered — is also underway. "Unlike last year, when we focused on hiring overseas marketers, this time the aim is to secure talent preemptively across all business divisions," the company said.

Smaller indie brands are also joining the hunt. The Founders, the operator of Anua — a skincare brand that has been gaining word of mouth overseas — is hiring for multiple positions, including global marketing roles and overseas managers for the United Kingdom, Japan and Russia. More than 80 active job postings are currently listed on its official website.

Torriden, which attracted a minority investment from Goodai Global this year, is recruiting for more than 10 roles, including global e-commerce product planners and regional managers for Japan, Europe and Chinese-speaking markets. VT Cosmetics, known for its "Ridle Shot" line, is also hiring for overseas sales and marketing positions covering Latin America, Japan and Southeast Asia.

"Just as demand for IT technical workers surged during the coding boom, a talent war is now playing out in the K-beauty market," one industry insider said. "Demand is particularly strong for candidates who are fluent in foreign languages and have relevant experience, as companies push directly into overseas markets," the person added. "If you include OEM and ODM manufacturers, the scale of hiring across the domestic beauty industry will be unprecedented."