Hanwha is planning to double new hires in fall

Hanwha Group is set to double its hiring to 5,729 new recruits in the fall hiring season, thanks to new business projects like the Galleria’s duty-free shop, as part of efforts to help ease the nation’s youth unemployment problem.

As Hanwha hired some 2,958 new recruits in the spring, the plan shows the group will create about 8,690 new jobs this year.

The group announced Sunday that it plans to hire 17,569 newbies by 2017. The group said it will hire 5,140 entry-level employees next year over two hiring seasons and 6,700 in 2017.

“The plan is part of our voluntary efforts to participate in the government’s job creation initiatives and invest in Hanwha’s future,” Hanwha Group wrote in a statement. “Hanwha will continue the hiring expansion initiative through 2017 because the youth unemployment issue is not something that can be solved in a short period of time.”

Each Hanwha affiliate has been told to expand their hiring capacity of entry-level, full-time employees to 600 in the second half of the year, and each will hire a total of 1,000 newbies this year. They will also hire up to 1,000 interns whom may be hired after completing the internship program.

The group’s major manufacturing affiliates in defense and solar power are hiring a total of 1,525 new hires. They are Hanwha’s core businesses.

Hanwha Q Cells’ solar panel production lines in North Chungcheong are hiring to fulfill demand both in and outside the country, while the defense division’s new hires will be working on its guided weapon projects. Hanwha Techwin, which Hanwha acquired from Samsung Group at the end of June, plans to hire about 80 new people for new projects.

Hanwha’s service business affiliates, including Hanwha Galleria, are hiring a total of 2,365 new employees in the latter half of the year. Hanwha Galleria is scheduled to hire 2,000 workers for its new duty-free shop in the 63 Building in Yeouido, southwestern Seoul, which is slated to open by the end of the year.

BY KIM JI-YOON [kim.jiyoon@joongang.co.kr]