Mamedov Rahim of Smart Energy, Mobility & Part Division, Hyundai Corporation
The sole foreign employee at Hyundai Corporation Headquarters
Enrolled in Korean Language Studies due to linguistic similarities and discovering many cultural parallels through work
Proud to have successfully completed a project with his home country last year; aims to continue identifying sustainable business opportunities

 

Mamedov Rahim of Smart Energy, Mobility & Part Division, Hyundai Corporation

 

“Even as a foreigner myself, I was amazed to see such a non-stop stream of international visitors coming in for consultations. The foot traffic at the Hyundai Corporation booth continued right up until the very end of the event.”

On the 20th, Mamedov Rahim (Staff, pictured), a member of the Smart Mobility team within the Smart Energy, Mobility & Part Division at Hyundai Corporation, shared his impressions, saying, “We conducted consultations all day, yet many people still had to turn back without even getting a chance to meet. It really hit home just how much international interest in Korea has grown.”

Rahim represented Hyundai Corporation at the “Global Talent Fair” held last May, the largest global job fair in Korea, where he led consultation sessions for foreign applicants. This marked Hyundai Corporation’s first participation in the fair. It was a significant occasion, as Rahim attended as a representative for this key event just as the company approaches its 50th anniversary.

Rahim’s connection with Hyundai Corporation dates back to 2022. “While working as a freelancer, I happened to collaborate with Hyundai Corporation on a project related to my home country, Turkmenistan,” Rahim recalled. “That was when I naturally started taking an interest in the company.” Having recognized his potential, Hyundai Corporation offered him a formal position, and he has been working as a full-time employee since 2023.

Currently, he is the only foreign member at Hyundai Corporation’s headquarters. However, communication is never an issue, as he is a “pro-Korea” talent who has studied the language since his undergraduate years. “After graduating high school, I was drawn to the Korean language because it shares many linguistic and grammatical similarities with Turkmen,” Rahim said. “In 2012, I enrolled in the Azadi World Languages Institute in Turkmenistan to begin my formal language studies.” The Azadi World Languages Institute is the only university in Turkmenistan with a Department of Korean Language and is similar in character to the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. In 2017, he was selected as a government-sponsored scholar and dedicated himself to his studies in Korea until 2023. Born in 1995 and now 30 years old, Korea has been a central part of his life for nearly half his age. He even submitted a thesis titled, “A Comparative Analysis of the Korean and Turkmen Languages.”

Regarding Korean corporate culture—often cited as a challenge for foreigners—he described it as “actually a plus.” He explained, “Some people describe Korean corporate culture as ‘rigid,’ but to me, that structure feels like reliability. In Turkmenistan, there is a culture of wearing uniforms at work, and even university students wear them, so I was able to adapt to Korean culture very quickly.”

For Rahim, the greatest appeal of Hyundai Corporation is “continuity.” “I found it fascinating that a general trading company doesn’t just end at buying and selling goods; it’s a place that must constantly discover sustainable, continuous business models,” Rahim emphasized. “In particular, the ability to play a crucial role as a mediator connecting the businesses of two countries is very attractive.” His efforts have already yielded results, as he successfully closed a business project with Turkmenistan last year.

Rahim’s future goal is rapid growth. “Hyundai Corporation’s motto is ‘A Sustainable Company,'” he stated. “In line with that philosophy, I want to continue discovering and creating business opportunities with lasting continuity. I have a strong ambition to contribute to creating something out of nothing.”

 

July 20, 2025
Financial News