Kia to Recruit More Assembly Line Staff

Kia will hire scores of new manufacturing workers this year following the example of parent company Hyundai, and interest is expected to be equally keen. 

The automaker said Thursday that labor and management agreed in negotiations the previous day to hire new assembly line staff in the second half of this year. The numbers have not been decided yet but are expected to be similar to last year's 138. 

Lively interest is expected since Kia manufacturing workers are among the country's best paid. Their average annual salary exceeded W100 million in 2021 with coveted perks such as discounts on cars (US$1=W1,260). 

Last year, 50,000 applicants applied for the available jobs, a competition ratio of 360 to 1. There were no restrictions on age and academic background, but the applicants had to pass job interviews and take tests on their basic knowledge of cars.