Top Global Firms Always Prioritize Talent First
- stellakim64
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Original Publication by Maeil Business Newspaper, June 5, 2025
Translated into English by HRCap, June 5, 2025
“Some Korean companies still write up their business plans and only think about recruitment at the very end. But world-class global firms start by identifying the right people—then build their businesses around them.”
That’s the firm message from Andrew Sungsoo Kim, Founder, CEO & President of HRCap, the largest Korean-run Executive Search & HR Consulting firm based in the United States. Kim sat down for an interview with Maeil Business Newspaper on June 3 at HRCap’s headquarters in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, just days ahead of the firm’s 25th anniversary on June 7.
Founded in 2000, HRCap now serves over 1,500 clients across the globe—including the North American operations of major Korean conglomerates like LG, Samsung, and Hyundai, as well as Japanese and Chinese corporations and the multinational giants like Amazon and Google that have scaled across Asia. The firm continues to expand globally, with an Asia headquarters in South Korea and a newly established European presence.
Kim attributes HRCap’s success to its unwavering people-first philosophy. HRCap not only identifies best-fit talent in response to client requests, but the company also proactively recommends critical candidates based on strategic foresight—and delivers standout results.
For instance, after learning that a Korean organization had suffered a cyberattack, Kim reached out to recommend a Harvard-alum Korean Canadian cybersecurity lead from the Canadian government. HRCap strategically and meaningfully engaged the executive candidate of the company's vision and how they could transform with their unique expertise, and ultimately convinced them to join the company’s as their Global Head of Security. In another case, Kim suggested a mobile-based payment system to another client, which eventually ignited them to launch their new business line—with HRCap designing and building the core team to lead it.
Kim stresses that talent is the single most critical factor in Korean companies’ success when entering the U.S. market—but not just any talent. “In the past, it was standard for Korean firms to launch U.S. branches and dispatch a domestic executive as the local lead,” he said. “Today, you need a leader who not only understands the U.S. market and Korean operations, but also deeply grasps the localized American culture.”
Kim is also credited with coining and championing the concept of K-HR—a Korean-rooted HR philosophy akin to the rise of K-pop. “K-HR represents talent shaped by Korean DNA,” he explained. “We have evolved from simply being known for diligence and sincerity to being defined by our grit, boldness, and refusal to give up.” He noted that whereas U.S. firms once hesitated to hire Korean professionals, they now actively seek them out for the said characteristics. “The K-premium is real,” he said. “We are now recognized and scouted for the unique strengths we bring.”
When asked about his future vision, Kim reflected on the rise of Artificial Intelligence in HR. “AI has already transformed recruiting,” he acknowledged. “But the true competitive edge of a leading organization will still come from the breadth and depth of human touch—the intuition and empathy that connect people. At HRCap, we will go beyond investing in tools and technology to architecting meaningful relationships that redefine and spearhead the new standard of HR.”
By Won Sup Yoon, Maeil Business Newspaper