KOTRA courts Seattle students in recruitment push

As Korea grapples with a tightening domestic labor market and a race for dominance in emerging technologies, the nation is increasingly looking toward American university hubs to secure its next generation of skilled workers. The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) hosted a targeted recruitment drive on Tuesday (local time) in Seattle, Washington, a city that has become central to the agency’s efforts to bridge the talent gap. The event, held in conjunction with the Study in Korea Fair 2026 and supported by the Korean Consulate General, drew approximately 2,000 students from 11 regional institutions, including the University of Washington and Portland State University. KOTRA, a state-funded organization established in 1962, functions as the government’s key agency for international trade and investment. While its historical mandate focused on export promotion, its modern role has expanded significantly into attracting foreign direct investments and, more recently, orchestrating a global "brain gain" strategy to support the country's semiconductor, biotechnology and arti

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