Unico Search

What Unico Search does

Unico Search is a Seoul-based executive search and HR consulting firm founded in 1984 as Korea's first dedicated search consultancy, spun out as an independent corporation in 1992. The company serves Korean conglomerates (chaebols), Fortune 500 multinationals, financial institutions, public organizations, and growth-stage startups, providing executive search across CEO, middle management, and working-level positions. Its core service lines include Executive Search, Outside Director Recommendation, Reference Check/Background Verification, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), and Outplacement, supplemented by a specialized Board Lab sub-brand focused on outside director lifecycle programs and corporate governance consulting.

The firm's primary technology asset is its proprietary Univision database and project management system, developed and maintained in-house over three decades and now containing over 100,000 professional profiles used for market mapping, referral sourcing, and target search. The system has been iteratively upgraded since Univision 1.0 (2000) to v3.0 (2008). Global delivery is supported by federated partnerships with TRANSEARCH International (since 2002), FMW (since 2017), Randstad Sourceright, and Globalization Partners, enabling cross-border mandates. The firm employs 80+ specialized permanent consultants organized by industry vertical (Banking & Finance, Bio & Healthcare, Consumer & Retail, ICT, Industrial, PE, etc.) and function.

Unico Search operates on a transaction-based revenue model, charging approximately 20-30% of placed candidate annual salary for executive search with a 3-6 month guarantee period, plus project-based pricing for RPO, reference checks, and consulting engagements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is exclusively direct sales through dedicated consultants, supported by thought-leadership content (consultant columns in major Korean business press), industry seminars (e.g., with Deloitte Korea, Maeil Business Newspaper), and university partnerships. The company claims an 80%+ repeat order rate with 40% of repeat orders coming from Fortune 500 clients, and 90%+ retention with startup clients. In September 2023, the company received strategic investment from Drama & Company to integrate Remember's AI technology into its matching capabilities.

Name

Unico Search

Legal name

Unico Search Inc.

Website

https://unicosearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Unico Search is Seoul-based executive search firm founded 1984, Korea's first. Serves Korean conglomerates, Fortune 500 multinationals, financial institutions, and startups via retained search, RPO, board consulting, and reference checks, supported by proprietary Univision talent database and 80+ permanent consultants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Headhunting recruitment
• Board director consulting
• Recruitment process outsourcing
• Outplacement career transition

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Retained executive search service finding appropriate professionals for client positions. Fees typically charged as percentage of recruited candidate's annual salary. Covers CEO/executive, middle management, and working level positions. Recruitment guarantee of 3-6 months depending on service rate.
2. Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO): Full or partial recruitment process outsourcing including advertising, document review, interviews and assessments. Charged based on scope and scale of recruitment project.
3. Reference Check / Background Screening: Comprehensive candidate assessment including verification of education, work performance, and reference checks from previous employers, colleagues, and other referees.
4. Outplacement Services: Career transition support for laid-off employees including group workshops, 1:1 career coaching, job search support, and optional office space. B2B service charged to client companies.
5. Board Lab Consulting: Board governance consulting services including outside director lifecycle programs, board effectiveness evaluation, CEO succession planning, and board secretariat support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Unico Search is a South Korean executive search and HR consulting firm providing retained search services across CEO/executive, middle management, and working-level positions. Core offerings include Executive Search, Outside Director Recommendation, Reference Check/Background Check, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Outplacement services, and Board Lab governance consulting for Korean conglomerates, Fortune 500 firms, financial institutions, public sector organizations, and startups.

Product overview

Unico Search is a South Korean executive search and human resources consulting firm offering a comprehensive suite of recruitment services. The company operates as a unified service portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include Executive Search (인재추천), Outside Director Recommendation (사외이사추천), Reference Check/Background Check (평판조회/고용심사조회), Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO/채용대행), and Outplacement (퇴직임직원 전직 지원). The company also operates a specialized sub-brand called Board Lab for board consulting services. An internal proprietary platform called Univision serves as the company's database and project management system. Founded in 1984, the company has over 30 years of experience in the executive search industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Board Lab: Board consulting business unit offering Outside Director Life Cycle programs including recruitment, training, evaluation, and governance consulting services.
• Univision

Products and services

• Executive Search (인사추천 / 인재추천) Executive search service finding and recommending the most suitable professionals for client positions, covering CEO/executive level through working level employees, based on comprehensive analysis of corporate culture, recruitment background, and multi-dimensional assessment of candidates' achievements, expertise, and personality. For Korean conglomerates, Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and large enterprises.
• Outside Director Recommendation (사외이사추천) Distinguished evaluation and recommendation service for outside directors suitable for financial institutions, public entities, and large corporations, including understanding corporate culture, current situation, hiring context, and relevant regulations.
• Reference Check / Background Check (평판조회/고용심사조회) Comprehensive assessment service verifying candidates' work performance, capacity, and background through 360-degree evaluation, including verification of education, career, previous employers, and opinions from referees. Typically includes 3-4 referees per candidate.
• Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) (채용대행) Outsourcing service covering entire or partial recruitment processes including advertising, document review, interviews, and tests for annual open recruitment drives or establishment of new firms or departments. Pricing based on scope and scale of recruitment project.
• Outplacement (퇴직 임직원 전직 지원) Professional support services for laid-off employees including job market information, career consulting and coaching, group workshops, and office environment support to assist in re-entering the job market. B2B service charged to client companies.
• Board Lab (사외이사 Life Cycle Program) Board consulting business unit offering innovative governance solutions including Outside Director Life Cycle Program, Board Service, Board Monitoring, Board Leadership, Board Secretariat Service, and Interim Executive programs. Includes board diagnosis, board effectiveness evaluation, and CEO succession planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% re-order rate from existing clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deloitte KoreacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Jointly hosted seminar on board directors' responsibilities and strategies for responding to changing management environments with AI. Deloitte provided insights on AI governance and market trends.
• Maeil Business NewspapercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 June 2026Co-hosted seminar on board governance and AI strategies with Unico Search and Deloitte Korea.
• Jipyeong Law FirmminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 19 June 2026Co-hosted seminar providing legal perspectives on board responsibilities and AI implementation risks.
• Aalto University Korea Alumni AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026MOU signed for discovering experts and developing outside director talent pool across all industries. Aalto University is a leading Finnish innovation university producing global talent in technology, management, and design.
• FMW (Future Manager World)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 February 2017Global federated corporation partnership since 2017. FMW operates globally with over 7,000 clients (23% global, 27% international, 50% local). Provides international recruitment network access.
• TRANSEARCH InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2002Global Top 10 Search Firm Group partnership for international executive search services. Process management rebuilt to global standards through this partnership.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic business partnership for outside director lifecycle programs. Deloitte provides expertise for board consulting including outside director recruitment, education, and evaluation services.
• Randstad SourcerightminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) partner for global recruitment process services.
• Globalization PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEOR (Employer of Record) partner for global employment and onboarding services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PageGroup: Global recruitment firm (Michael Page, Page Personnel, Page Executive) operating across Asia Pacific. While primarily mid-market, Page Executive competes with Unico in senior professional and executive search segments.
• Hays: Global recruitment and workforce solutions firm with significant Asia Pacific presence. Overlaps with Unico's professional and middle management search offerings across multiple sectors, though focused more broadly on mid-market placements.
• Randstad: Global HR services leader with significant Korean operations. Partner of Unico Search for RPO services but also a broader competitor in permanent placement and recruitment process outsourcing across all levels.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and talent solutions firm with operations in Korea. While broader in scope (temporary staffing, consulting, permanent placement), overlaps with Unico's RPO and mid-level recruitment offerings.

Direct peers

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong presence across Asia. Competes directly for senior executive and board mandates across consumer, industrial, and financial services sectors.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with significant Asia Pacific operations. Directly comparable to Unico Search in serving Korean conglomerates, financial institutions, and multinational clients for C-suite and board placements.
• Spencer Stuart: Premier global executive search and leadership advisory firm. Competes with Unico Search for C-suite and board appointments, particularly with multinational clients operating in Korea.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with strong presence across Asia Pacific, including Korea. Competes directly for senior executive and board search mandates across financial services, technology, and industrial sectors.
• Korn Ferry: Global executive search and organizational consulting firm operating across all major industries including Korea. Directly competes for C-suite and board-level mandates with Unico Search, especially for multinational clients and cross-border Korean engagements.
• TRANSEARCH International: Top 10 global executive search firm and Unico Search's long-standing partner since 2002. Comparable in cross-border executive search methodology and industry specializations, serving as both partner and potential competitor for international mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unicosearch

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unico Search