A new country, a foreign language, unfamiliar routines – for many, this sounds like a significant challenge. For Munho Jang, Chief Financial Officer at Novaled, it became a reality. Four years ago, he left Korea to take on a leadership position in Germany. “I thought I was well-prepared,” he says today. “But the reality was quite different.”

His experience underscores how crucial the right support is for international professionals to successfully overcome these initial hurdles and truly feel at home in their new environment. How can the path for international professionals coming to Germany be designed so they not only arrive, but also truly settle in? Together with their relocation partner, intap, Novaled found a way – improving processes and forging genuine connections.

Meet the Expats

When companies expand their expertise globally, they often send skilled workers and executives abroad – known as expats. To learn more about the individual stories and challenges of these international employees, using Novaled in Germany as an example, we spoke with three people whose professional journeys brought them here:

Pyeong-Seok Cho came from Korea with over ten years of successful experience at Samsung SDI before being assigned to Germany as Chief Technical Officer.

Sung Won Park, Pyeong-Seok’s wife, offers a family perspective, shaped by her own time in Italy. This personal experience allows her to particularly understand the difficulties of an international move.

Munho Jang moved to Dresden four years ago, where he made valuable contributions as Chief Financial Officer at Novaled. He has since taken the next step in his career and returned to Samsung SDI in Korea.

Between Anticipation and Paperwork

When Pyeong-Seok arrived in Dresden with his family, the first few weeks were primarily marked by uncertainty. “In Korea, there’s no official birth certificate like in Germany. I had a similar document with me, but the Welcome Center didn’t accept it.” He adds, “I always thought everything in Germany was precise. But then I had to deal with authorities – and suddenly everything was complicated, slow, or unpredictable.”

Support That Truly Matters

Starting a new life in an unfamiliar country and work environment presents international professionals with numerous challenges. Besides linguistic and cultural hurdles, they must navigate an often complex administrative and bureaucratic landscape. But how can they find their footing? The answer lies in professional support that extends far beyond mere arrival and enables sustainable integration.

Sung Won, whose move to Germany was facilitated by intap’s support, emphasizes the great relief: “I didn’t have to worry about anything – everything was organized. Even when there were delays, I never felt alone. „Finding an apartment, in particular, was a challenge for Sung Won. “Many years ago, I moved to Italy alone – that was pure chaos,” she recalls with a laugh. “This time, everything was much easier. I barely had to lift a finger.” This quote illustrates the central role of professional relocation services, which ensure comprehensive and structured support from visa applications and apartment hunting to dealing with authorities.

The seamless integration of international talent is a crucial success factor for globally operating companies. At Novaled, the People Group understands the efficiency gains provided by professional relocation services. “In the past, we handled many matters internally. However, it quickly became clear that managing the logistical and bureaucratic challenges exceeded our capacity,” explains Kati Opitz, an expert at Novaled. This statement highlights the operational relief companies experience by outsourcing these demanding tasks.

Expats have clear expectations for their arrival in Germany. “They expect everything to be perfectly organized, from entry and residence formalities to the small things in life,” says Kati Opitz. Meeting these high expectations requires specialized expertise and a commitment that is difficult to manage internally.

Looking Ahead

Language courses, intercultural training, and clear emergency contact structures were identified as particularly relevant. Sung Won reports: “I tried to learn German, but I found it difficult to understand. Since my son attends an international school, I also hardly have any opportunity to learn the language.” Munho openly addresses the concern of being on one’s own in an emergency: “If something unforeseen happens, be it a car accident or a medical emergency, we often feel helpless because we don’t know who the right contacts are. An emergency contact service would give us a great deal of security in such moments.” These experiences vividly demonstrate the importance of tailored offerings for language promotion, strengthening intercultural competencies, and establishing a reliable emergency network.

Conclusion: Settling In Is Teamwork

What remains after several years of experience in Germany? In addition to deep gratitude, the desire for continuous development is evident. “Asian and European cultures show significant differences,” notes Munho. “However, the kindness of the people here greatly facilitated settling in.”

For Novaled’s People Group, supporting expats with their relocation has long been a strategic success factor, not just a service enhancement. Kati Opitz emphasizes: “For us, it’s particularly important that all our new team members feel welcome and supported – and this applies especially to our expats. When they have peace of mind, they can contribute their full energy to Novaled and shape the future with us. Therefore, in challenging areas such as visas, welcome services, and related fields, the expertise of a professional partner with sound legal advice is of immense value. Collaborating with relocation specialists significantly eases the operational burden on our team.”

Relocation is more than just a change of location. It implies building trust, fostering cultural understanding, and establishing an authentic culture of welcome. The experiences presented here demonstrate: attracting international professionals requires structured, empathetic, and attentive support throughout the entire integration process. Ultimately, the foundation for successful integration is the feeling of being at home.

About Novaled GmbH

Novaled GmbH, founded in 2003, is a globally leading research and development company specializing in chemicals for use in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Novaled’s products are found in most AMOLED displays, including smartphones, tablets, TVs, and smartwatches. Since late 2013, Samsung SDI has been the main shareholder of Novaled GmbH. With an international team of over 130 employees from 14 nations, Novaled continues to drive innovation in Dresden, creating an inclusive work environment where internationality is actively lived.

As part of its affiliation with Samsung SDI, Novaled regularly welcomes top executives from South Korea to Dresden. For the support of these C-level positions, Novaled relies on intap, an experienced partner who ensures an optimal start in Germany with a comprehensive 360° relocation service.