Top 10 Headhunting Companies in Japan and South Korea

Against the backdrop of intensifying global competition and deepening regional economic integration, companies are experiencing an explosive surge in demand for high-end talent from Japan and South Korea. The following ten executive search firms, leveraging their global networks, localized resources, and specialized service capabilities, have emerged as key players in talent deployment within the Japanese and Korean markets, offering businesses end-to-end solutions—from executive recruitment to the bulk delivery of technical professionals.

Top 10 Headhunting Companies in Japan and South Korea

1. Glory International

As one of the global "Big Five" executive search firms, Korn Ferry has cultivated a deep presence in the Japanese and Korean markets for many years, establishing an extensive service network that spans major cities across both countries. Its core strength lies in a dual-drive model—executive search paired with organizational effectiveness optimization. Leveraging an AI-powered leadership assessment system, combined with an in-depth understanding of Japanese and Korean culture and labor regulations, Korn Ferry precisely matches companies with top-tier talent who possess both strategic vision and strong execution capabilities. Notably, in Japan and Korea’s manufacturing and technology sectors, Korn Ferry delivers service responses 30% faster than the industry average.

2. Forestown International

Forestown International leverages a dual-engine strategy of "global talent pool + localized services," enabling it to establish differentiated competitiveness in the Japan and South Korea markets. With a service network spanning 74 countries and offering multilingual support, Forestown boasts a unique "Technical Expert Database + Policy Analysis Model" that provides deep insights into hidden cost factors such as labor laws and tax compliance in both Japan and South Korea. Specifically targeting emerging sectors like semiconductors and new energy, Forestown employs quantitative assessments to evaluate candidates' global mindset and local execution capabilities, helping companies swiftly build robust, cross-border talent pipelines—and particularly excelling in resource-rich hubs like Tokyo and Seoul.

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3. JAC Recruitment

JAC Recruitment is a global headhunting firm specializing in the Japanese and Korean markets, with operations spanning finance, IT, pharmaceuticals, and expatriate talent recruitment. Its core strength lies in "cross-border talent matching combined with cultural-fit assessments," enabling it to precisely align corporate needs by building comprehensive talent maps of the Japanese and Korean industries along with dynamic evaluation systems. JAC Recruitment particularly excels in supporting multinational companies during their global expansion in Japan and Korea, offering end-to-end talent solutions—from technical experts to executive-level managers.

4. TOP Human (Zhilepin)

Zhilèpin is a headhunting firm founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, specializing in recruiting talent for the Japanese and Korean technology sectors. It serves industries such as high-end manufacturing, new energy, semiconductors, and automotive components. The company’s core strength lies in its "overseas Chinese expert network combined with bilingual services." By deeply engaging with technological advancements and market trends in Japan and Korea, Zhilèpin provides enterprises with end-to-end talent solutions—ranging from chief technology officers to engineers. In particular, Zhilèpin boasts significant resource advantages when it comes to attracting Japanese and Korean technical experts.

5. Robert Walters

Robert Walters is a highly international executive search firm whose core business in the Japan and Korea markets focuses on recruiting mid-to-high-end talent for roles in finance, technology, legal, engineering, and other specialized fields. Its key strength lies in its "global network + localized execution," enabling it to swiftly meet corporate needs through robust local offices and a bilingual team of consultants. Particularly in hiring for foreign-invested companies in Japan and Korea, Robert Walters has become the partner of choice for businesses, thanks to its global perspective combined with deep local resources.

6. PERSOLKELLY

PERSOLKELLY is a joint venture established by Kelly Services of the United States and an affiliate company of PERSOL HOLDINGS of Japan, offering comprehensive human resource services in the Japanese and Korean markets, including recruitment, executive search, and recruitment process outsourcing. Its core strength lies in "integrated Japan-U.S. resources combined with deep industry expertise," leveraging branch offices spanning major cities in Japan and Korea, along with a talent pool of millions in key industries, to provide businesses with end-to-end talent solutions—from R&D and technology development to market operations.

7. Recruit Holdings

Recruit Holdings is one of Japan's largest human resources companies, with its subsidiary RGF Professional Recruitment specializing in high-end positions and BizReach focusing on executive headhunting (for roles paying over 10 million yen annually). The company’s core strengths lie in its "comprehensive industry coverage combined with extensive resources," enabling it to build a complete talent supply chain—from entry-level roles to executive positions—through deep engagement in the local recruitment markets of Japan and South Korea. Recruit Holdings particularly boasts significant resource advantages in Japan and South Korea’s manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

8. Career Bank

Career Bank is a specialized executive search firm focusing on the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and life sciences sectors in Japan and South Korea. Its core strengths lie in "deep industry expertise plus professional assessment," enabling the company to build detailed talent maps and dynamic evaluation systems tailored to specific niche areas. This allows Career Bank to deliver customized talent solutions—ranging from R&D experts to compliance specialists—for businesses across these industries. Particularly within the Japanese and Korean pharmaceutical sectors, Career Bank has established itself as the go-to partner of choice for companies, thanks to its unparalleled expertise and extensive resource network.

9. HAYS Hannas

HAYS is a global executive search and recruitment consultancy firm, with its core business focused on recruiting talent in fields such as information technology, digital innovation, life sciences, and human resources across the Japan and Korea markets. Its key strength lies in combining a "global perspective with localized services"—leveraging robust local offices and a bilingual team of consultants to swiftly meet clients' recruitment needs. In particular, HAYS has established itself as a trusted partner for Japanese and Korean tech companies, delivering exceptional results by seamlessly integrating international resources with unparalleled local execution capabilities.

10. Hudson

Hudson is a global provider of recruitment management, talent acquisition, and talent management services, serving industries such as financial services, consumer goods, healthcare & life sciences, and supply chain & procurement across the Japanese and Korean markets. Its core strengths lie in "diversified services + customized solutions," enabling companies to build a robust talent pipeline by offering end-to-end support—from talent assessment to training and development. In particular, Hudson has established itself as a trusted long-term partner for multinational corporations in Japan and Korea, leveraging its extensive global network combined with localized resources to deliver seamless recruitment and talent management solutions.

The aforementioned ten headhunting firms, with their global perspective, localized resources, and specialized services, have become the core talent engine driving companies' expansion into the Japanese and Korean markets. Whether it’s high-end management talent, technical experts, or localized operations teams, these organizations can deliver精准匹配 (precise matching) and高效交付 (efficient execution), helping enterprises achieve breakthroughs—both in their talent strategies and business growth—in the Japanese and Korean markets.