if you are not prepared for Korean military culture, you will not be a happy camper - Entry Level Staff Kia Motors Employee Review

3.0
26 Feb 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

global company, challenging, "decent" salary, quite prestigious (not at doctor/lawyer level but still good). The greatest benefits are outside of the company as you do gain good recognition as self esteem. depending on your team and job duties, you may have very exciting job duties

Cons

collectivist, heirchical culture is very difficult for people who do not have any insider information regarding how to behave properly in the company. the work style is based almost completely on the Korean military system so it is very demanding for males and the emphasis is on a subordinate to exhibit military style subordinate attitdue. Women in the office serve as either semi-temporary eye candy workers or extremely self-motivated career types and are viewed & treated as such. The company really operates in Silo's so while the corporate culture is consistent, departmental culture is so varied so it's all purely in the luck of the draw and how well your team leader is able to work with non koreans. Strictly speaking, for a conservative Korean company, it's not that bad but if you're a westerner, even with "foreigner benefits" and preferential treatment, it is a very negative experience for most. Furthermore, the salary is good but the way they pay you is terrible. 30% bonuses instead of a fixed salary means splurging and difficulties saving up. For foreign employees, you are signed on a yearly (2 year max) contract that until you become hired as a full-time "permanent" employee, you are not viewed truly as an insider but as a contract worker. This is not made clear at the start. It is socially negative to be a contract employee in Korea as this makes your work uncertain. Only with full time status, do you actually become a true employee.

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5.0
20 Dec 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

flexibility, reducing over head cost, cost estimation

Cons

lonely due to lack of in person interaction, work life imbalance

3.0
1 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Work is meaningful; Team members help each other.

Cons

Very low flexibility; lack of authority. Yes "sir" to HQ culture.

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