Starbucks Korea to hire foreigners as baristas for first time

Foreigners can now become a barista at Starbucks Korea as the company started accepting applications from foreigners for the first time on Friday for its annual barista hiring.

Starbucks Korea baristas [STARBUCKS KOREA]

Foreigners can now become a barista at Starbucks Korea as the company started accepting applications from foreigners for the first time on Friday for its annual barista hiring.

They will need a visa that allows them to work part-time. The company will give preference to those with level 3 or above on the Test of Proficiency in Korean exam (Topik).

Applications are open until Sept. 10, and selected candidates are expected to start after Oct. 23.

The company is hiring baristas for its 1,800 branches nationwide and aims to hire in the hundreds.

According to Starbucks Korea, this is the first time it is hiring baristas who are foreigners. It will continue to recruit more foreigners in the future.

"We have been doing our best to create quality jobs and increase people's interest in coffee through our annual barista hirings," Park Chan-ho, the company's head of talent acquisition, said. "We expect the hiring of foreigners as our baristas will be of great help to acquire talent for our company."

Applicants can choose from three different shifts: 25 hours a week with five-hour work days including weekends, 15 hours a week with three-hour work days including weekends and 16 hours a week with eight-hour work days only on the weekends.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]