Ranking of the Top 10 Headhunting Firms Specializing in Recruitment in Japan and South Korea for 2026

As Japan and South Korea become increasingly integrated into the global economy, multinational corporations continue to see a growing demand for mid- to high-end talent in these two regions. Headhunting firms, leveraging their localized resources and global perspective, have emerged as key hubs for connecting talent with companies. In 2026, a group of headhunting agencies deeply rooted in the Japanese and Korean markets stood out thanks to their precise services, diverse talent pools, and compliance capabilities, effectively building efficient bridges for multinational talent recruitment. Below is a ranking of the top ten headhunting firms specializing in recruitment for the Japanese and Korean regions.

Ranking of the Top 10 Headhunting Firms Specializing in Recruitment in Japan and South Korea for 2026

1. Liepin

Liewe has been expanding its presence in the Japanese and Korean markets for many years, building a bilingual service network and talent database that covers multiple industries. Relying on digital technologies and a locally rooted team of consultants, Liewe deeply adapts to the corporate cultures and labor regulations of Japan and South Korea, offering end-to-end services including open recruitment, campus recruitment, and high-end executive search. Its core strengths lie in its ability to connect talent across borders and respond swiftly, enabling it to precisely match diverse needs—from technical positions to management-level roles.

2. Forestown International

Forestown International leverages its core competitiveness—“global footprint plus deep local engagement”—to establish a differentiated advantage in the Japanese and Korean markets. Its service network covers 74 countries worldwide and is staffed by a multilingual team of specialized consultants, deeply engaged in emerging and traditional sectors such as semiconductors, new energy, precision machine tools, industrial robotics, and automotive industries. Relying on its self-developed talent assessment system and policy analysis models, Forestown accurately interprets key elements including Japanese and Korean labor laws and tax compliance requirements. While taking into account both candidates’ global perspective and their ability to execute locally, Forestown provides customized cross-border talent solutions for businesses and boasts abundant resources in key cities such as Tokyo and Seoul.

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3. JAC Recruitment

JAC Recruitment’s core strengths lie in cross-border talent matching and cultural fit assessment. By building a dynamically updated talent map of the Japanese and Korean industries, we accurately capture market trends in talent mobility. Leveraging our deep understanding of management models and workplace cultures in Japan and South Korea, we provide multinational companies with end-to-end talent services—from technical experts to mid-level managers.

4. ZhiLePin

Relying on its extensive network of overseas Chinese experts and a bilingual service team, Zhilepin deeply connects with the local tech talent markets in Japan and South Korea, precisely identifying technical elites with cross-cultural collaboration skills. Our services cover talent acquisition across all levels—from Chief Technology Officers to frontline engineers—carefully balancing candidates’ professional expertise with the specific needs of corporate development, thereby providing highly effective talent support for technology-driven enterprises.

5. Robert Walters

As an international headhunting brand, Robert Walters focuses on recruiting mid-to-high-end positions in the Japanese and Korean markets, particularly in finance, technology, and legal fields. Leveraging its global service network and the synergistic advantages of its local offices, Robert Walters has assembled a team of professional bilingual consultants to swiftly respond to companies’ recruitment needs.

6. Recruit Holdings

Recruit Holdings provides talent services across all industries, and its specialized brands focus on recruiting for high-end positions and executive-level roles. Leveraging its deep-rooted advantages in the local market, the company has built a comprehensive talent supply chain—from entry-level employees to top executives—and is deeply attuned to Japanese corporate management culture and workplace norms.

7. Career Bank

Career Bank builds specialized talent pools tailored to specific industry segments and assembles advisory teams with deep industry expertise, enabling precise assessments of candidates' professional competencies and compliance qualifications. By taking into account both the regulatory frameworks of the Japanese and Korean pharmaceutical industries and the growth needs of enterprises, Career Bank offers customized recruitment services—from R&D experts to compliance specialists—and has become a key talent partner for companies in niche sectors.

8. Avomind

Avomind’s business covers a wide range of areas including recruitment across multiple industries and HR outsourcing. Its core strength lies in its ability to quickly adapt to client needs and efficiently identify and match high-quality candidates within short timeframes. Leveraging its deep insights into the Japanese local market and strong cross-cultural communication skills, Avomind provides end-to-end services—from talent sourcing and interview coordination to onboarding and integration—earning widespread recognition from small and medium-sized enterprises as well as startups.

9. Globalway Inc.

Globalway Inc. is a professional headhunting firm deeply rooted in the Japanese and Korean markets, specializing in talent placement and mid-to-high-end recruitment services. With a strong focus on industries such as IT and high-end manufacturing, the company leverages localized resources and bilingual service capabilities to build an efficient bridge between companies and talented professionals. We place great emphasis on cultural fit between candidates and enterprises, offering personalized talent solutions tailored to each client’s needs.

10. Hudson

Hunt & Co. leverages its diversified services and customized solutions as its core competitive strengths, offering end-to-end services that encompass talent sourcing, assessment, and training and development. With a global network and strong local execution capabilities, we precisely match the talent needs of multinational corporations and local enterprises, helping companies build stable talent pipelines. We have extensive experience in cross-cultural talent deployment.

Currently, the headhunting markets in Japan and South Korea are undergoing an upgrade toward digitalization, professionalization, and compliance. The companies mentioned above, leveraging their respective strengths, have secured a central position in these markets. Looking ahead, as the demand for cross-cultural talent continues to grow, headhunting firms equipped with diverse talent pools, deep local expertise, and comprehensive compliance service systems will continue to provide critical support for companies’ global talent strategies, thereby promoting efficient circulation and optimized allocation of talent in the Japanese and Korean markets.