On June 24, Korea Zinc announced its "2026 New Graduate Recruitment" initiative. This marks the first hiring since the announcement of its Project Crucible, a construction project for a smelter in Tennessee, USA, last year. The recruitment will cover 16 positions, including technology, research and development (R&D), finance, accounting, sales, purchasing, and production management. Applications will be accepted through the company’s website until July 3, with successful candidates progressing through a series of assessments, including an online aptitude test, AI competency evaluation, interviews, and health checks, before starting in early September.
The recruitment process will focus on Korea Zinc's five core values: honesty, commitment, flexibility, communication, and teamwork. The company is also enhancing its hiring process by incorporating AI assessments to evaluate digital skills and problem-solving abilities comprehensively.
In recent years, Korea Zinc has maintained an average annual hiring rate in the triple digits, reflecting its expansion into new business areas such as the Troika Drive and global operations. Currently, 35.5% of employees at its headquarters and Onsan smelter joined the company within the last five years. The demand for talent has increased, particularly in sectors related to key minerals, including Project Crucible.
As a result, Korea Zinc has decided to conduct an additional recruitment drive in the first half of the year, in addition to its regular hiring in the second half. This strategy aims to proactively secure key talent with global capabilities and growth potential.
Following the announcement of Project Crucible, Korea Zinc has doubled its domestic hiring plans compared to previous years, continuing its commitment to invest in talent. This year, the total recruitment of new graduates is expected to reach four times the usual scale, including both the regular and additional hiring.
A company representative stated, "As Korea Zinc's role as a global hub for critical mineral supply chains increases, we recognize the need for proactive investment in securing global talent. This recruitment initiative is a reflection of that understanding. We will continue to focus on securing future growth drivers while fulfilling our social responsibilities through principled talent management and workforce development."
Korea Zinc is also committed to providing industry-leading compensation and benefits. The company offers onboarding programs to support new hires, including introductory training, on-the-job training (OJT), mentoring, and Rookie Days for new employees. These initiatives have helped maintain a turnover rate of just over 3% in the past two years, which is below the industry average. The company plans to continue fostering a talent-centered organizational culture based on a stable working environment.
Additionally, Korea Zinc has been recognized for its commitment to ESG management, achieving the highest rating from ISS, a leading proxy advisory firm, for nine consecutive months, and becoming the first non-ferrous metal company in Korea to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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