Ace Your Korean Interview: How to Answer “Why This Company?”

Ace Your Korean Interview: How to Answer “Why This Company?”

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Getting ready for a job interview can be nerve-wracking, especially in a different language. But don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn how to confidently answer one of the most important questions: “Why do you want to work for our company?”

Recently in Korea, the job market is more competitive than ever, especially in hot industries like IT, bio-tech, and K-content. A strong, clear answer to this question can make you stand out from the crowd. Let’s learn the key phrases that will impress any Korean interviewer!

Core Expressions for Your Big Day

Here are three essential phrases to explain your motivation like a pro.

1. …에 지원하게 되었습니다 (…e jiwonhage doeeotseumnida)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: …e jiwonhage doe-eot-seum-ni-da
• English Meaning: I came to apply for… / I ended up applying for…
• Detailed Explanation: This is a very polite and formal way to say “I applied.” The grammar ~게 되다 adds a nuance that your decision to apply was the natural result of your interest and research. It sounds much more thoughtful and professional than simply saying “I applied.”
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The final part, 습니다, is not pronounced seup-ni-da. The ㅂ (b/p) sound changes to an ㅁ (m) sound when it comes before ㄴ (n). So, you should pronounce it as [seumnida]. This rule, called nasalization, makes the pronunciation smoother!

2. …에 관심이 많습니다 (…e gwansim-i manseumnida)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: …e gwan-si-mi man-sseum-ni-da
• English Meaning: I am very interested in…
• Detailed Explanation: This is a perfect and direct way to express your passion for the company’s field, products, or vision. You can use it to talk about your interest in the industry (e.g., “게임 산업에 관심이 많습니다” – I’m very interested in the game industry) or the company itself.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Two things to watch for here! First, in 관심이, the final consonant ㅁ (m) from 심 moves over to the next syllable, so it’s pronounced [gwansimi], not gwansim-i. This is called liaison. Second, in 많습니다, the ㅎ (h) is silent and it makes the next consonant ㅅ (s) stronger. So, it is pronounced [man-sseumnida].

3. 제 역량을 발휘하고 싶습니다 (Je yeongnyang-eul balhwihago sipseumnida)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Je yeong-nyang-eul bal-hwi-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da
• English Meaning: I want to demonstrate my capabilities.
• Detailed Explanation: This phrase powerfully connects your personal skills (역량) to the company’s goals. It shows that you are confident and believe you can make a real contribution. It tells the interviewer, “I have the skills, and I want to use them right here.”
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In 역량, the pronunciation is [영냥, yeong-nyang]. The combination of the consonants ㄱ (g/k) and ㄹ (r/l) often results in a ㅇ (ng) and ㄴ (n) sound. It’s a tricky rule, but mastering it will make you sound much more natural!

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real interview situation. Imagine you are applying for a marketing position at a popular webtoon company.

• A: 면접관 (Interviewer):
  우리 회사에 왜 지원했습니까?
  (Uri hoesae wae jiwonhaetseumnikka?)
  Why did you apply to our company?

• B: 지원자 (Applicant):
  저는 평소 K-웹툰 산업에 관심이 많습니다. 특히 이 회사의 글로벌 마케팅을 보고 크게 감명받아 지원하게 되었습니다. 이곳에서 제 역량을 발휘하고 싶습니다.
  (Jeoneun pyeongso K-webtoon saneob-e gwansim-i manseumnida. Teuki i hoesaui geullobeol maketing-eul bogo keuge gammyeongbada jiwonhage doeeotseumnida. Igot-eseo je yeongnyang-eul balhwihago sipseumnida.)
  I have always been very interested in the K-webtoon industry. I was especially impressed by this company’s global marketing, which is why I came to apply. I want to demonstrate my capabilities here.

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

Go Beyond Your “Specs”!

In Korea, your qualifications on paper are called “스펙” (seupaek, from the English word “specs”). While having good specs is important, interviewers are looking for more. They want to see your passion and genuine interest in the company.

• Do Your Homework: Korean companies highly value applicants who understand their company philosophy (기업 철학, gieop cheolhak) and vision (비전, bijeon). Before your interview, visit the company’s website. Find their mission statement or a recent project you admire.
• Tell a Story: Instead of just saying you’re interested, connect it to a personal experience. For example, if you’re applying to a food company, you could say: “I tried your new ramyeon and was so impressed by the flavor that I researched the company and decided I had to be a part of it.” This is much more memorable!
• Mentioning K-Dramas: Recently, K-dramas like “Start-Up” or “Misaeng” have shown the realities of Korean office life. Mentioning that you were inspired by the passion shown in such dramas can be a fun and relatable way to show your interest in Korean work culture!

Let’s Practice!

Time to check what you’ve learned.

1. Fill in the blank:
   You want to say, “I am very interested in K-Pop.”
   저는 K-Pop에 _______________.

2. Make a sentence:
   Imagine you are applying to Samsung. Using …에 지원하게 되었습니다, how would you say “I came to apply to Samsung”?

Great job today! Answering this question well is your chance to shine and show your unique passion.

Try making your own answer in the comments below using today’s phrases! We’d love to see them. 파이팅! (Fighting!)