KB Goodjob Job Fair Draws Crowds as Young Koreans Face AI-Era Hiring Squeeze

“Even when job postings go up these days, most are for experienced hires. Companies don’t hire many entry-level workers, so I’m trying anything I can. AI makes me uneasy, but I have to work to become someone who can keep up with it.”

Jeong Mi-ju, 26, said that Monday at the “2026 First KB Goodjob Excellent Companies Job Fair” at COEX in Seoul’s Gangnam district. Dressed for an interview, she carried a backpack filled with resumes and a portfolio. Preparing since January for an IT job, Jeong said she was ready to interview if she got the chance at the fair.

Now in its 29th year, the KB Goodjob fair has drawn about 6,200 companies over time and provided jobs to 45,000 job seekers, organizers said. About 250 companies participated this year. The venue was packed from the 10 a.m. opening, with attendees ranging from vocational high school students to college students, soon-to-be graduates and troops nearing discharge.
Many young visitors said they felt hiring had become tougher as AI spreads, and that they came to secure any opportunity they could.

Na In-chae, 29, who worked two years on a contract in public relations and marketing and is now seeking a new job, said, “You can definitely feel there are fewer openings and the competition is higher.” She added, “At work, it feels like AI is required, so I’m trying to earn at least one more certificate. Still, I’m relieved I’ll be interviewing with two companies here today.”

Kim Ye-rin, 28, preparing for a job in electronics and IT, said, “As AI’s role grows, I think every day about what I can do.” She said she visited the booth of a company that had rejected her application to ask what she lacked and to get feedback. “Even if I don’t get a good opportunity, I hope they see this kind of initiative in a positive way,” she said.

Programs aimed at helping job seekers use AI drew especially heavy interest. A recruiting briefing titled “Job-hunting strategies in the AI era” was crowded even before it began. When speakers explained prompts for writing cover letters with generative AI, some attendees held up phones to record the screen. As seats filled, others stood outside on tiptoe to listen.
 
The AI-based “Career Solution Zone,” which offers customized job counseling, was also crowded. The program provides comprehensive consulting tailored to each job seeker’s readiness and supports training to strengthen job-search literacy using AI. Organizers said that 1 hour and 50 minutes after opening, 99 people had taken waiting tickets.

A 19-year-old identified by the surname Kim said after a session, “I’m very interested in robotics, and it helped to get detailed, personalized advice on whether to work right away or go to college.” Kim said they planned to look around more, using the counseling as a guide, noting that many related companies had booths at the fair.

KB Kookmin Bank said it plans to continue supporting participating companies after the fair, including by offering specialized talent-matching services linked to KB Goodjob partner institutions. If participating companies hire full-time employees, the bank will provide hiring support funds of 1 million won per person, up to 10 million won per year.

KB Kookmin Bank CEO Lee Hwan-joo said he hopes the event will be “a place of challenge and opportunity” where young job seekers can fully demonstrate their abilities. He said the bank will continue a range of social contribution activities alongside KB Goodjob to “do our best to establish ourselves as a lifelong financial partner for the public.”