A 15-member business delegation representing Czechia’s fast-growing Battery Cluster touched down in Seoul in the early hours of 7 November to begin a five-day road-show that will take them from the Korean capital to Ulsan, Pohang and Jeonju. The mission—organised by CzechInvest and the Ministry of Industry and Trade—brings together executives from six cell-manufacturing start-ups, two universities and three Tier-1 automotive suppliers that already operate plants in Moravia–Silesia. Their brief is two-fold: secure strategic technology partnerships with Korea’s battery giants, and convince experienced Korean engineers to accept temporary assignments in Czechia as production ramps up.
Talks will focus on joint R&D projects in solid-state chemistry, anode recycling and battery-management software—areas in which Korean firms remain global leaders. According to deputy cluster head Petra Janošová, Czech companies have struggled to recruit enough process engineers and quality-assurance specialists domestically. “We will need at least 600 additional high-skill employees by 2027. Temporary intra-company transfers from partner firms in Korea are the fastest way to fill that gap while we scale our own talent pipeline,” she told reporters at Incheon Airport.
![Czech Battery-Cluster Mission Lands in Seoul to Court E-Mobility Partners and Engineers]()
The two governments have been laying the groundwork for such mobility. In September they signed a bilateral Social-Security Coordination Agreement eliminating dual pension contributions for assignees posted for up to five years. Czechia has also doubled the 2026 quota for “Key and Research Staff” employee cards issued at its Seoul consulate—an incentive the delegation will highlight in its meetings with LG Energy Solution and SK On.
If successful, the mission could help anchor the entire e-mobility value chain in Central Europe. Hyundai already produces EVs at its Nošovice plant, and South-Korean lithium-hydroxide supplier POSCO is scouting a site near Ostrava. Czech regional authorities are offering fast-track building permits and R&D tax credits, while Prague Airport is lobbying Korean Air to upgrade its seasonal Seoul–Prague service to year-round daily flights to support the expected increase in commuter traffic.
For global-mobility managers the message is clear: expect a surge in Korean short-term assignees starting mid-2026. Companies should prepare orientation programmes in English and Korean, review housing allowances for the Moravian regions and plan for family-reunification visa applications, which can take up to 90 days even under priority processing.
Talks will focus on joint R&D projects in solid-state chemistry, anode recycling and battery-management software—areas in which Korean firms remain global leaders. According to deputy cluster head Petra Janošová, Czech companies have struggled to recruit enough process engineers and quality-assurance specialists domestically. “We will need at least 600 additional high-skill employees by 2027. Temporary intra-company transfers from partner firms in Korea are the fastest way to fill that gap while we scale our own talent pipeline,” she told reporters at Incheon Airport.
The two governments have been laying the groundwork for such mobility. In September they signed a bilateral Social-Security Coordination Agreement eliminating dual pension contributions for assignees posted for up to five years. Czechia has also doubled the 2026 quota for “Key and Research Staff” employee cards issued at its Seoul consulate—an incentive the delegation will highlight in its meetings with LG Energy Solution and SK On.
If successful, the mission could help anchor the entire e-mobility value chain in Central Europe. Hyundai already produces EVs at its Nošovice plant, and South-Korean lithium-hydroxide supplier POSCO is scouting a site near Ostrava. Czech regional authorities are offering fast-track building permits and R&D tax credits, while Prague Airport is lobbying Korean Air to upgrade its seasonal Seoul–Prague service to year-round daily flights to support the expected increase in commuter traffic.
For global-mobility managers the message is clear: expect a surge in Korean short-term assignees starting mid-2026. Companies should prepare orientation programmes in English and Korean, review housing allowances for the Moravian regions and plan for family-reunification visa applications, which can take up to 90 days even under priority processing.
