From student to developer: Turning challenges in Korea into opportunities

Meet Kumush, a Kyrgyz fullstack developer at Circus Company in Seoul. We sat down with her to learn about her journey from Kyrgyzstan to Korea, what it's like working in tech here, and why she believes more global talent should consider a tech career in Korea.

Profile snapshot

Name: Nazhimidin kyzy Kumushai (or just Kumush)
Nationality: Kyrgyz
Current role & company: Fullstack developer at Circus Company
Years in Korea: 5.5 years
Visa status: D2 -> E7
Languages spoken: Kyrgyz, Russian, English, Korean
Previous countries worked in (if any): Kyrgyzstan

Background & career

Q. Can you briefly introduce yourself and your current role?

Hi, I’m Kumush from Kyrgyzstan. I came to Korea almost six years ago as a KGSP scholar and studied Computer Science at Jeonju University, graduating last year. During my final semester I interned at my current company and, right after graduation, started working there as a full-stack web developer. I’ve been with the startup for almost two years now.

My journey in Korea, from moving abroad to studying during COVID and starting my career, was full of challenges but also deeply fulfilling. Korea has become my second home and I hope my story inspires others on a similar path.

Q. What was your career path before moving to Korea?

I came to Korea directly as a student. Everything about my career, from studying Computer Science to my first internship and now my full-time job, has happened here.

Q. What inspired you to work in Korea?

My story with Korea began in high school at the King Sejong Institute (세종어학당, sejongohakttang) in my hometown, Osh, Kyrgyzstan. I started learning Korean as a hobby and, over time, became fascinated by the language and culture through my interactions with Korean professors. That experience opened many opportunities and left me with lasting connections. Later, when I saw how innovative Korea was in tech, I knew I wanted to build my career here, so I started preparing for TOPIK to apply for the KGSP program.

Experience working in Korea

Q. Tell us briefly about your company (size, industry focus, notable achievements).

I currently work at Circus Company, a small Korean startup in the AR/VR and digital content field where I’ve been involved in a variety of web development projects. As part of the Tech Infra team, my role covers a wide range of tasks from building user interfaces and implementing backend logic to managing cloud infrastructure and integrating APIs.

During my time here, I’ve worked on internal tools, company platforms, and client-facing applications for both B2C and B2G projects. This diverse scope of work has helped me broaden my technical skills, gain hands-on experience across the full stack, and wear many hats along the way.

Q. How did you find your current job? Was the hiring process challenging as a foreigner?

I started looking for internships during the first semester of my fourth year, planning to work during the summer holidays. Fortunately, the semester before I had taken a career preparation class that taught us how to write resumes, cover letters, and portfolios in proper Korean style, which helped a lot when I began applying.

I first applied to several companies through JobKorea and got a few interviews, but none felt like the right fit. Some companies rejected me because I was still a student without experience or because they preferred Korean candidates, so I began filtering positions using the “외국인 적용” option on the platform. Then I discovered the 2023 KOTRA Job Fair for international students, held in late summer. I prepared my documents and applied to a few companies through their official website. Soon after, I received a call inviting me to Seoul for an interview even before the official job fair date, so I didn’t end up attending the event on the actual day to meet other companies. After two interviews and a technical task, I was accepted, started as an intern, and later transitioned to a full-time (정규직, jonggyujik) role with an E7 visa.

The hiring process was still stressful, especially as a foreigner competing with Korean candidates. Some companies were cautious about hiring, but speaking Korean and preparing the right documents made a huge difference. Persistence paid off, and that job fair gave me the opportunity to start my career in Korea.

Q. Can you describe your typical workday?

My workday starts at 10 am after a 30-minute commute to Gangnam. I usually begin by grabbing a coffee, checking Slack for updates and reviewing my weekly plan to prioritize tasks for the day.

Mornings are when I focus on building and refining UI components and holding meetings, which I find the most creative part of the day. In the afternoons I shift to backend development working on logic implementation, API integrations or infrastructure-related tasks. Since our company also develops AR/VR games, I often collaborate with the Unity team to discuss project infrastructure, resolve bugs, and support API requirements.

I work closely with both Korean and international colleagues from countries like France and Malaysia and we often share casual conversations over coffee (the French love their small chats and now I’m a fan too!). Our official hours end at 6 pm, which gives me time to keep a good work-life balance.

Q: How does Korean work culture compare to your home country's?

Since my career started in Korea I don’t have direct IT experience back home to compare. One thing I’ve noticed is the culture of 야근 (yageun meaning ”overtime”), which is common in many Korean companies. In my case overtime isn’t required, but if there’s a deadline you stay until the work is done. Back home, from what I know through friends and relatives, once work hours end everyone simply goes home.

Q. Do you speak Korean at work? How is communication handled in your team?

Yes, we use both Korean and English about 50/50. I usually speak Korean with my Korean colleagues and manager and English with my international colleagues.

Lifestyle & community

Q. What's your life outside of work like? How have you built your social life here?

Outside of work I love traveling and exploring new places and exhibitions in and outside of Seoul whenever I have free time. Walking in nature helps me recharge, clear my mind after coding and bring some color into my daily routine. I’m also fond of coffee and enjoy discovering the many beautiful coffee shops Seoul has to offer, sometimes for quiet self-study and other times to have meaningful conversations and share experiences with friends.

When I first came to Korea, I didn’t realize how much I would miss the big community of friends I had back home. The quarantine and online classes made it harder to meet new people, and at first I felt quite isolated. Thankfully I had a few friends from Kyrgyzstan who supported me, and over time my circle began to grow.

Over the years I’ve built a diverse and supportive community here, from Kyrgyz students and professionals I met through the Sejong Institute and university to close friendships with Korean classmates through study groups during my later years. I’m also involved in the English-speaking tech community in Korea where I’ve met many talented and inspiring people, including an incredible network of women in tech I connected with at international events in Seoul.

These relationships have made my life in Korea much richer, warmer and more meaningful.

Q. How much has knowing Korean (or learning it) helped in your daily life?

Personally, it helped me tremendously. I came to Korea with level 5 Korean from the King Sejong Institute, so I was able to take my university classes in Korean from the start and later that year achieved TOPIK level 6. The first semester was challenging, especially learning engineering terms during online COVID classes taught in Korean, but it became easier with practice.

At work speaking Korean daily helps me communicate effectively with my team, work on Korean projects and interact confidently with Korean clients during meetings. Outside of work it allows me to join activities without worrying about language barriers. For example, I once attended a developer leadership event organized by InWe and Microsoft called “Code Without Barriers” and only realized during the event that I was the only non-Korean there. It felt great to blend in so naturally, and moments like this remind me how much knowing Korean has shaped my experience.

I’ve even had funny encounters, like when a Korean glass seller thought I was Korean while I was helping my friend buy glasses by translating from Russian to Korean. He complimented my “good Russian”, which was both surprising and satisfying to see how far my pronunciation had come.

Knowing Korean has opened doors, helped me build friendships and made my life here much smoother and more fulfilling.

Q. What was your biggest culture shock when you first arrived?

My first culture shock was how reserved students were at university. Back home you know everyone’s name after just a few weeks, but in Korea many students kept to themselves unless they already knew each other or were assigned to the same team project.

I remember one moment during an algebra class when the professor asked for a volunteer to solve a problem on the board. I raised my hand but quickly noticed that none of the Korean students did, even though I was sure many of them knew the answer. That’s when I realized this might be part of the Korean classroom culture, where students tend to be more modest or reserved when speaking up. At the time I couldn’t fully understand whether it was because of humility or simply how the education system shapes participation from high school. In my country students are usually more active and tend to volunteer more often.

At first this made me feel a bit disconnected, and I sensed that some students were even shy around foreigners. However, by my second and third years things changed when I joined holiday study groups where I built close friendships with Korean classmates, friendships that continue to this day. That experience completely transformed my perception and made my university life much richer.

Reflections & advice

Q. Do you plan to stay in Korea long-term, and how do you see your career evolving here?

Yes, definitely. I’ve just started my tech career and want to explore more opportunities. In the future I hope to work on cutting-edge AI projects and connect with a talented tech community where we can grow together. Korea’s rapidly growing tech industry feels like the perfect place to make that happen.

Q. What tips would you give to someone searching for a tech job in Korea?

My tips are based on my experience as a student in Korea so they may be a bit different for those who didn’t study here. Still, I think they can be helpful for anyone.

One thing that really encouraged me when I started applying was something my professor said during our career prep class about the Korean job market. He told us “일단, 지원해!” (ilttan jiwonhae meaning “First, just apply!”). That advice stuck with me. You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment or until you feel 100% ready. Just apply. Even if you get rejected, every rejection teaches you something. Keep going and before you know it, you’ll be walking into a Korean office as a new team member.

Here’s what personally helped me:

Learn Korean. Even skilled developers struggle to find jobs here without it. Knowing Korean opened many doors for me. But don’t be discouraged these days, many companies also look for English speaking candidates.
Attend job fairs like KOTRA. They’re an amazing way to meet companies directly. I found my job through this fair. Prepare your resume in advance, register on their website when they announce the dates, check the list of companies and apply for interviews through their platform. On the event day, you’ll have the chance to meet companies face-to-face and interview on the spot. (They usually update the website closer to the event.)
Use your professors’ networks. If you’re a student in Korea, ask your professors about job openings, they often have strong industry ties. One of my friends actually got her first job thanks to her professor’s recommendation.
Prepare your documents (and visa) properly. Before applying, check which visa the company supports. Then prepare your documents in the Korean style. Most companies value a detailed resume (이력서, iryoksso), cover letter (자기소개서, jagisogaeso), and for IT positions, a portfolio is usually expected. Write them in both Korean and English, it shows adaptability and effort.
- Tip: If you want to write your documents in Korean, you can easily find many Korean CV and portfolio templates by searching based on your domain. For example, try Googling terms like “백엔드/프론트엔드 개발자 포트폴리오 템플릿” or “이력서 템플릿” (baegendeu/peuronteuendeu gaebalja poteupollio tempeullit, i ryeokseo tempeullit meaning “backend/frontend developer portfolio template or resume template“). Searching in Korean will give you access to more examples and resources that match the expectations of the Korean job market.
- For example, these examples(1, 2) I found randomly while searching in Korean. This is a typical portfolio format preferred by many Korean companies, with an easy-to-read structure and detailed information. If you’re short on time, you can quickly build your own portfolio in Notion by following a similar structure to this Korean-style example.
- Additionally, you can find resume templates designed specifically for foreigners on the Buddies website.
Make the most of resources. When I was searching, there weren’t many platforms for foreigners. Now there are so many - Buddies, Klik, Kowork, Komate, and of course Dev Korea, which posts positions with language requirements clearly stated. This makes the search much easier.
Network and build your community. Opportunities often come through people. Share your experiences, ask for feedback on your applications and don’t be afraid to ask or reach out for coffee chats. Everyone goes through the same struggles in job hunting as a foreigner in Korea, especially these days when the market is competitive. Supporting each other and staying persistent really makes a difference. I hope more foreigners will help and support each other. Just keep going and I believe that each effort pays off. I hope my tips will be helpful for you, and yes you can find a job, just keep doing your best.

Q. What can Korean companies do to better support and integrate international employees?

Many companies are still hesitant to hire foreigners, worried about communication or cultural fit. But once they see results that hesitation disappears. Companies should be more open-minded and trust international talent.

It’s encouraging to see more Korean companies, even big ones starting to welcome foreign employees. I hope this trend continues.

Q. What's one thing you wish you knew before moving here?

How inaccessible some everyday things were for foreigners. For example, when I first opened a bank account at Woori Bank, all the documents were in Korean. Even with my language skills, the financial terms were confusing.

Over time, services improved. Now platforms like Bravo make banking and other tasks much easier for internationals. I’m happy to see how Korea is becoming more foreigner-friendly, not only in daily life but also in the tech industry and beyond.

Q. Would you recommend Korea to other international tech professionals, and why?

Yes, absolutely. If you want to work in Korea, a country with a rapidly evolving tech industry and meet inspiring people in a fast-growing tech hub, it’s definitely worth considering.

From my own experience, Korea offers an exciting environment where you can learn quickly, work with technologies used by leading Korean tech companies, and be part of an industry that’s constantly innovating. It’s not easy. The pace can be challenging due to language barriers, financial adjustments, cultural differences, and even building a social life, but these challenges push you to grow. As people say, you never know unless you try. Experience it for yourself, see if it’s the right fit, and even if it’s not, you’ll still gain valuable life experience and meet amazing people along the way.

For those who are not afraid of challenges and ready to step out of their comfort zone, Korea can be a place where both your career and personal life grow in ways you never imagined.

Rapid fire

Favorite Korean food: 돌솥비빔밥 (dolsotppibimppap meaning “Dolsot Bibimbap”) -> Like regular bibimbap but served in a hot stone pot, perfect for cold winter days.
One must-visit place in Korea: Korean University Festivals -> A great way to experience vibrant campus life with delicious food stalls, live performances, and an energetic atmosphere.
Most surprising thing about Korean tech culture: How fast-paced and innovative it is, perfectly reflecting the Korean 빨리빨리 (ppalrippalri meaning “hurry-hurry”) culture.
Favorite Korean word or phrase: 괜찮아 (gwaenchana meaning “It’s okay”) - A phrase Koreans use during ups and downs. I said it to myself many times while adapting to life here, so if you’re struggling now, remember: it’s 괜찮아 and it’ll be 괜찮아, you’ve got this!

Connect with Kumush

LinkedIn: /in/kumushai

If you want to be next and contribute, send us an email to florian@dev-korea.com.

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