From K-POP Fan to Global Marketer

: An International Graduate’s Career Journey in Korea 

– Building a Career in the Korean Cosmetics Industry –

From fascination with Korean dramas and K-POP to studying abroad and a professional career in Korea. Through her academic journey at Kwangwoon University, meaningful relationships, and steady immersion in the Korean language and culture, one international graduate has successfully established her place in the Korean workforce.

Today, Mhonreni Humtsoe works in global marketing at the cosmetics company OUTINFUTURES (flagship brand: NEOGEN). Her story offers practical insight into how international students can transition from university life to professional success in Korea.

Q. Please introduce the company you currently work for and your role.

A. I work at the cosmetics company OUTINFUTURES, whose flagship brand is NEOGEN. I am responsible for global marketing tasks, including social media content planning, sales support, and international market communication.

Q. What motivated you to decide to pursue employment in Korea?
A. I have been interested in Korean culture since I was young. As I grew fond of Korean dramas and K-POP, my curiosity about Korea naturally deepened. After graduating from high school, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Korea, which brought me here. As I continued studying and living in Korea, my desire to build a career here became more clear.

Q. When did you come to Korea, and what path did you follow?
A. I came to Korea in 2017 and have been studying korean since then, for about six years. I entered Kwangwoon University in the Class of 2018 and later pursued a master’s program, while preparing for employment.

Q. When and how did you begin preparing for employment?
A. I began preparing seriously for employment during my senior year of undergraduate studies. While pursuing my master’s degree, I studied with a scholarship and received extensive career counseling and mentoring from my academic advisor.
Through an acquaintance’s introduction, I worked at my first company for about three years. Later, on the recommendation of a friend in the cosmetics industry, I transferred to my current company. During my master’s program, I initially worked in an internship capacity and was converted to a full-time position after graduation.

Q. How helpful were your language skills during the job search process?
A. My first company was a foreign-affiliated firm with overseas branches, so much of the work was conducted in English. However, communication with employees at the Korean branch was mostly in Korean. Studying Korean alongside Korean culture was extremely helpful not only for communication, but also for adapting to the organizational culture and work style.

Q. How did you mainly find job opportunities?
A. Most opportunities came through personal recommendations. My part-time jobs, internships, and even my current position were all connected through introductions from people around me. The network I naturally built through school life, clubs, and church activities became a valuable asset.

Q. What was the most challenging part of the job preparation process?
A. Preparing application documents was not easy, but the most difficult parts were interviews and visa issues. Although I had studied Korean, I lacked sufficient speaking practice, which made interviews stressful. Visa requirements also varied depending on individual circumstances, making the preparation process quite complicated.

Q. What was the employment visa application process like?
A. The company provided overall support, but the process was still complex because the required documents differed depending on personal circumstances. In particular, there were aspects that required an understanding of Korea’s administrative and documentation systems, such as contracts. In my case, documents related to family ownership were involved, which required extra attention, and several rounds of supplementary submissions were necessary.

Q. What was the decisive factor in choosing your current company?
A. I have been interested in K-beauty and skincare since I was young, and I have used NEOGEN products since middle school. As I learned more about the company, I felt that its values and direction aligned well with mine, which became the most decisive reason for joining.

Q. What do you consider to be your strengths as an international student?
A. I believe my strengths are cultural understanding and global communication skills. I am currently responsible for the U.S. market, and understanding not only the language but also the culture and needs of local consumers is extremely helpful in my work. The experiences I gained through interacting with friends of various nationalities naturally connect to my professional work.

Q. Were there any classes or activities at Kwangwoon University that were particularly helpful?
A. Professor Kyunghee Bu’s Brand Marketing class was the most helpful. Through team projects, we analyzed real corporate cases and organized our findings into proposal-style presentations for companies. This experience helped me develop practical insight and a clear sense of marketing direction.
In addition, meeting people and building relationships through on-campus and off -campus clubs, university events, and various activities organized through the Office of International Affairs were also extremely beneficial.

Q. Do you have any personal strategies that helped you endure life in Korea?
A. Talking to people as much as possible. In the beginning, my Korean was limited, so even asking for help felt difficult. Once I started sharing my concerns honestly, I was able to receive realistic advice and hear others’ experiences. In the end, networking became my greatest source of strength.

Q. Is there anything you would especially like to say to international students preparing for employment?
A. First, I hope they study Korean as much as possible while they are in university.
Second, even if speaking feels difficult, it is important not to be embarrassed and to actively participate in team projects and classes.
Third, when there are school events, I recommend participating even if they do not seem directly related to one’s major. Participation itself becomes experience and can lead to relationships and opportunities.

Q. Is there anything you would like to see improved at Kwangwoon University?
A. I do not have any major complaints. However, I hope there will be more networking events where international students can connect with one another and share information.

Q. What are your future plans and dreams?
A. In the long term, I would like to play a role as a “bridge” connecting Korea and India. Even now, I am involved in introducing Korean cosmetics and accessories to India. Even if I eventually return to India, I hope to work by moving between the two countries through trade or business connected to Korea.

A. The very first thing I would do is eat Korean food—especially samgyeopsal. And if I were away from Korea, I think I would miss my friends and everyday Korean life, such as the café culture.