Interest in Korean cosmetics leads Turkish student to sales career with K-beauty giant

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Interest in Korean cosmetics leads Turkish student to sales career with K-beauty giant

Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 15:32 Updated: 14 Apr. 2026, 15:53

YOON SEUNG-JIN
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Zeynep Erkal poses for a photo during a promotional shoot for cosmetics brand Espoir. [ZEYNEP ERKAL]

[Hired in Korea]

As more internationals look to build careers in Korea, many find themselves facing practical hurdles — from limited guidance to a lack of firsthand experience. To bridge that gap, the Korea JoongAng Daily talks with professionals who have carved out their paths in diverse fields, offering readers real-world insights on how to start their careers in the country in this series “Hired in Korea.”

Zeynep Erkal from Turkey first visited Korea on a trip with her father in 2010, where she immediately fell in love with the country and its people, saying they gave off “good vibes.” However, what truly sparked her interest was Korean cosmetics, which eventually led her to work at one of the country’s largest cosmetics companies, Amorepacific.

Although Erkal initially planned to take only a few semesters of language courses here, she went on to complete her degree, majoring in business administration at Kyung Hee University to pursue a career in the country's beauty industry. During her time at university and after graduation, she constantly tried her best to gain experience through several internships at cosmetics companies, driven by her longstanding interest in the field.

“Since I had a clear interest in the beauty industry, I actively took part in extracurricular activities and internships, which mainly involved creating visual content for social media,” Erkal said in an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily. “I was able to effectively incorporate those experiences into my resume and during interviews.”

“I would say that if there is a specific role or field you are interested in, you should do your best to learn as much as possible about it so that employers can clearly see your passion for the work,” she added.

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Erkal to hear more about her journey, the challenges of working in Korea as an expat and her advice for those hoping to build a career here.

Amorepacific Group's headquarters in Yongsan District, central Seoul [AMOREPACIFIC GROUP]

Q. What’s your role at your current company, and where did you work previously?

A. For now, I’m working on the overseas sales team at the beauty and cosmetics brand Amorepacific. Before this role, I gained experience in global marketing through internships and contract positions.

Right before joining Amorepacific, I worked at Espoir, a subsidiary of the company, where I did global marketing. Additionally, I participated in extracurricular activities with CJ which has its own beauty retailer Olive Young and did an internship at another beauty brand, Neopharm.

Do you think your college major affects your career path? And have you studied anything beyond your major?

Yes, I do think college majors play a role in choosing and pursuing a career to some extent.

For example, business administration majors often go into fields like marketing or sales. At the same time, areas such as accounting and finance are also important parts of the major, so for people who want to pursue those paths, their major can matter more directly.

In my case, I was particularly interested in marketing and sales, so I took related courses and was able to figure out what suits me best. Based on my language skills and what I learned in college, I became confident that these fields would be a good fit for me.

Aside from my college coursework, I also studied for the Test of Proficiency in Korean, widely known as the Topik exam, and achieved Level 6.

Zeynep Erkal poses for a photo during her graduation at Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul. [ZEYNEP ERKAL]

Any tips for the job-hunting process and writing CVs?

I strongly recommend using websites, where you can find resumes and CVs, as well as interview questions and answers shared by candidates who have interviewed at specific companies. By reviewing their responses, you can get a better sense of what to write or say in your own applications and interviews.

As for the general application process, I believe it is often more effective to apply for positions specifically targeted at foreign applicants. Based on my experience applying to roles open to both domestic and international candidates, I encountered more complex questions and even had to participate in a presentation session, which required preparing and delivering slides, something I was not very familiar with.

In contrast, positions designed for expats tend to have simpler, more familiar recruitment processes, making them easier to navigate.

Do you have any memorable experiences or lessons you learned during interviews?

One important lesson I learned is to avoid showing too much nervousness. If you appear overly nervous, what you say might come across as less confident or less trustworthy.

In terms of questions, interviewers usually focus on your previous experience in the field, as well as your adaptability, especially for international applicants.

I also believe it’s very important to research both the industry and the company before attending interviews. The more you understand the field and the organization, the better your chances of performing well.

On top of that, you should connect your passion and knowledge to the role you’re applying for. For example, even though I only had experience in global marketing, I emphasized that I could apply that experience in the beauty industry to overseas sales as well.

That said, one rule of thumb is that things don’t always go as planned. Each company already has a specific type of candidate they’re looking for. So, no matter how much you prepare, there’s always a possibility that you won’t get the job.

Zeynep Erkal poses for a photo after winning an award at a Korean speaking contest hosted by Kyung Hee University's Institute of International Education. [ZEYNEP ERKAL]

What do you think is the biggest reason companies hire people from different cultural backgrounds?

I think cosmetics companies want to expand into new markets like the Middle East and Turkey, so they need people from those regions who understand the culture better.

For example, in my home country, Turkey, it can be tricky for Korean companies to sell products due to regulations and cultural differences, especially when it comes to ingredients used in cosmetics. So, companies need people who can help bridge that gap.

As far as I know, each company tends to prioritize specific regions, so it can be advantageous for foreigners to apply for positions related to those markets. Also, many foreign employees tend to work in sales roles.

What are the pros and cons of working for your current company?

The work environment here couldn’t be better. The company provides meals, massage therapy and even has an in-house clinic. While this isn’t exclusive to our company, we also have flexible working arrangements that allow us to set our own schedules.

I wouldn’t say that our company, or Korean companies in general, are perfect, but I do think they are making a strong effort to improve working conditions. As of now, I don’t see any major downsides.

Zeynep Erkal takes photos for promotional content for cosmetics brand Espoir. [ZEYNEP ERKAL]

Any tips for people who want to pursue a career in Korea?

To build a career and continue working in Korea, it’s important to understand what companies are looking for and find those that align well with your strengths. However, opportunities won’t come unless you keep putting yourself out there.

So don’t give up, and try to see failure as a stepping stone. I’ve experienced countless rejections myself.

One practical tip I can offer is to engage in a variety of activities, as I did, to figure out which role or field suits you best. Once you identify that, focus your efforts on developing in that area.

Even starting your own business can be a valuable experience later on. Unique experiences can also help you stand out in resumes and interviews.

Make every experience your own.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [[email protected]]