Kumho Tire recognizes that human resources are a key element of corporate competitiveness and strives to enhance its competitiveness through talent management, encompassing recruitment, training, labor relations, and employee benefits. To secure talent, Kumho Tire has established a set of desired employee core talent that align with our vision and operate a dedicated recruitment website. Through a fair personnel evaluation process, we ensure non-discriminatory hiring and appropriate compensation. We also support employee growth by providing tailored training according to job position and functions fostering a culture where employees can develop through their work. Additionally, we create a positive organizational culture by offering various employee benefits. In response to the evolving mobility era, we implement forward-looking labor policies and guidelines for future-oriented labor relations. We maintain active communication through various labor-management consultation channels.

Kumho Tire aims to create a better working environment byenhancing employee satisfaction and engagement, and improving organizational culture through activation programs and team workshops. Furthermore, Kumho Tire will continuously strive to prevent talent attrition and increase the number of long-term employees.

Fair HR Assessment

Kumho Tire operates an online evaluation system for systematic performance management, conducting Multidimensional performance appraisal, team-based performance appraisal, and ongoing evaluations. Each year in the first quarter, employees set their own goals and enter them into the system, allowing for realtime management of goals and performance through at least two ongoing memo evaluations throughout the year. For team leaders and senior staff, upward evaluations are conducted to ensure fairness and to enhance managerial leadership through evaluations and feedback. In 2023, Kumho Tire improved the HR evaluation system to contribute to the overall performance of the organization. To secure and retain talent, we increased the proportion of high performers and redefined the evaluation grade system to provide appropriate rewards to employees with high competencies. Additionally, we have raised the scoring for certifications, language proficiency, degrees (Master’s and Ph.D.), and research achievements in promotion evaluations to motivate personal skill enhancement.

Talent Recruitment

AI-driven Competency Assessment and Recruitment Platform Enhancement

Kumho Tire has improved its recruitment platform to allow applicants easy access to job postings and related processes. Additionally, by introducing AI-driven competency assessments during the recruitment of new employees, Kumho Tire strives to rationally select the best talent by deeply analyzing applicants’ adaptability to organizational culture and interpersonal skills. Through this, we aim to foster a competency-based recruitment culture that provides fair opportunities to all applicants.

Local Youth Preference

In 2023, Kumho Tire signed a memorandum of understanding with Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do, focusing on promoting local youth employment preferences. Through this initiative, we aim to provide job opportunities to local youth, allowing them to utilize their skills and potential, thereby boosting the local economy.

Employee Training

Kumho Tire has established an educational framework to help employees set their growth direction and goals through tailored training program based on their job position and functions.

New Employee Onboarding Program

Kumho Tire has introduced an onboarding process for new hires to help them easily adapt to a company-wide culture. Kumho Tire has set up a website to provide new hires with easily accessible information for their life at work, and extended the training from two nights and three days to four days, including programs such as core values internalization and empathy dialogue. Additionally, Kumho Tire has introduced pre-employment online and offline training, further conducting internal job training, basic accounting, and report writing courses.

Furthermore, Kumho Tire conducts the refresh training for employees in there second year at work. We have introduced the ‘One Team Spirit’ program, meaning one team with one goal, creating an opportunity for open communication with the CEO.

Promotee Training

Each year, Kumho Tire conducts promotee training based on the Standard Leadership Competency (SLC) Top 10, providing leadership training tailored to different job levels. Kumho Tire promote the internalization of Kumho Tire’s five core values—Customer First, Perfect Execution, Creative Innovation, and One Team Spirit—through various programs. Additionally, the training includes reading assignments, defining work methods, and lectures on business strategy and accounting. After the training, surveys are conducted to assess the work competencies before and after the training to evaluate the effectiveness of the training programs.

Team leader Training

In 2023, Kumho Tire extended the team leader retreat training from one night and two days to two nights and three days. Through this training, we support the strengthening of leadership and the development of managerial skills by understanding the roles and responsibilities of team leaders. Particularly in 2023, we aimed to strengthen not only the operational capabilities but also the relational capabilities of leaders through a survey of employee and manager perceptions regarding necessary leadership competencies. Additionally, we supported activities such as sharing team management manuals and creating action plans to improve the efficiency of management tasks.

In-House Mentoring Program

Kumho Tire operates an in-house mentoring system to enhance the job competencies of less experienced employees through inter-employee training. This creates a coaching culture where mentors naturally impart their experience and know-how to mentees. Considering the improvement in mentees’ organizational adaptation and job performance through the mentoring system, we extended the mentoring period from one month to three months starting in 2022, and also increased mentoring support funds.

R&D Division CDP Program*

Kumho Tire operates a self-directed CDP program to enable R&D staff to identify and supplement the competencies they need. Kumho Tire monitors the R&D competency index to evaluate and manage the educational effectiveness of the CDP program for staff who have completed the program.

* CDP: Career Development Program

Future Planning Support for Retirees

Kumho Tire provides diagnostic services for career and aptitude, future career planning, job placement, re-employment, and entrepreneurship education for employees nearing retirement. This service offers opportunities for life planning post-retirement, alleviating anxieties about retirement and fostering a positive attitude toward the later stages of life. In 2023, Kumho Tire provided future planning service training to 182 prospective retirees, achieving high satisfaction rates.

Management Lectures

Kumho Tire conducts annual management lectures to enhance employees’ understanding of the tire industry and to secure management competencies. Attendance at these lectures is mandatory for executives and managers to strengthen their future capabilities for decision-making and organizational management. In 2023, special lectures were conducted on response strategies for intellectual property management and the use of artificial intelligence.

Shared Growth of Labor-Management

Kumho Tire has established a mid-to-long-term roadmap for shared growth of labor-management, aiming for a future-oriented, virtuous cycle in labor relations. From 2022 to 2024, Kumho Tire has focused on efforts to normalize management and resolves major labor-management disputes, reinforcing trust and cooperation by implementing a special agreement in February 2023. Additionally, in April 2024, the office workers’ union of Kumho Tire became the first in a major manufacturing-based corporation to obtain separate bargaining rights from the technical workers’ union. Consequently, we reached a tentative agreement on wage system restructuring, adjustment of the wage peak system application period and reduction rate, and the implementation of a sustainable development council. Kumho Tire will use this agreement as a foundation to further strengthen the trust relationship between labor and management, and we plan to promote joint development through various communication channels.

Labor-Management Relations Roadmap

Collective Bargaining

Kumho Tire ensures the right to collective bargaining, allowing employees to have a voice in management based on trust and mutual prosperity. In 2023, collective bargaining resulted in agreements on job security, base salary increases, and support for bonuses.

Labor-Management Councils

Kumho Tire holds quarterly labor-management council meetings to discuss various issues such as wages, employee welfare improvement, work environment enhancement, and matters related to HR and labor management.

Employment Security〮Labor-Management Joint Development Committee

Kumho Tire has established the Employment Security〮Labor- Management Joint Development Committee to enhance job security and competitiveness at domestic factories. Each quarter, Kumho Tire identifies issues related to plant facilities and job assignments directly linked to product production and seek solutions to improve the work environment and safety management.

Management Briefings

Kumho Tire holds an annual management briefing session at each business site. Through these sessions, Kumho Tire shares key management performance, future business plans, and mid-to-longterm strategies, enhancing mutual understanding between labor and management and fostering cooperative labor relations.

Creating a Great Organizational Culture

Kumho Tire operates various systems and support programs to create a favorable work environment and a stable organizational culture. In addition to systems and benefits that ensure work-life balance, we actively introduce measures to boost motivation at both individual and team levels, earning external recognition as a great place to work.

Work & Life Balance

Kumho Tire guarantees flexible and efficient working systems and the free use of vacation time to support compatibility of career and family for its employees. Through this, we aim to improve employees’ work engagement and enhance their quality of life.

Team Synergy Enhancement Program

Kumho Tire conducts team synergy enhancement programs when there is required stronger bonds among team members, such as a significant changes in team members or creation of new department. This enhances free communication and mutual understanding among team members, improving employees’ satisfaction with the organization. In 2023, 22 teams (a total of 204 people) participated, showing a satisfaction score of 4.7 out of 5.

Organizational Activation Program

Kumho Tire operates organizational activation program to enhance the overall organizational atmosphere and strengthen communication among employees. All employees engage in team activities quarterly, building teamwork, enhancing participation and belonging, and fostering a positive organizational culture.

Individual Commendation System

Kumho Tire has implemented an individual commendation system since the first quarter of 2023 to recognize employees who contribute to the company’s growth. This promotes employee motivation and creativity and encourages positive competition. In 2023, 5 employees received the CEO Award, and 40 employees received the Division Head Award, with a total of 45 employees receiving benefits such as cash rewards, family travel vouchers, and HR bonus points.

Childcare and Parenting Support

Kumho Tire guarantees reduced working hours during pregnancy and pre- and post-natal leave policies. Kumho Tire also provides childcare subsidies for preschool children and operate in-house daycare centers at Gwangju and Gokseong plants to support employees’ childcare needs. Through this, we are creating a family-friendly corporate culture where employees can find the right balance for work and life.

Key Benefits and Welfare

Selected as a ‘Best Place to Work’

The Kumho Tire North America Technical Center has been selected as a Best Place to Work for two consecutive years, 2023 and 2024. Through an evaluation conducted by North American Rubber News, Kumho Tire was chosen as an outstanding company among rubber-related firms in North America based on comprehensive assessments of corporate policies, practices, and employee satisfaction.