31 July 2026
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Korea JoongAng Daily - Daily News from Korea
About
Marina Neretina shares how she built a career in marketing at renewable energy startup CnerG
[Hired in Korea]
As more internationals look to build careers in Korea, many find themselves facing practical hurdles — from limited guidance to a lack of firsthand experience. To bridge that gap, the Korea JoongAng Daily talks with professionals who have carved out their paths in diverse fields, offering readers real-world insights on how to start their careers in the country in this series "Hired in Korea."
While running her own paper recycling business in Russia, Marina Neretina wanted a bigger opportunity in a country with a completely different culture, and she chose Korea.
Neretina went on to earn a master's degree in international business from Ewha Womans University and now works as the marketing lead at sustainability startup CnerG.
CnerG runs a global digital marketplace that helps companies procure environmental commodities, including international renewable energy certificates and carbon credits.
"I was always interested in marketing and sustainable development, so I would say what I'm doing now is almost the perfect role for me," Neretina told the Korea JoongAng Daily. "It all started with making handmade paper, which made me wonder, 'Why don't we find better ways to recycle paper?'"
"Now I've built the company's marketing system almost from scratch, and I'm happy to see not only my own professional growth but also the growth of the sustainability industry here in Korea," she added.
The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Neretina to learn more about her journey, the challenges of building a career in Korea as a foreign professional and her advice for others hoping to do the same.
Q. Have you always been interested in sustainable development?
A. Yeah, because I've always wanted to have a bigger purpose.
Working in the sustainability sector, I feel like I'm contributing to a business that helps the environment, which gives me a meaningful role in society.
Even though it all started rather randomly when I was making paper crafts, I really enjoyed creating things with paper and eventually started a business. The more I worked on it, the more I realized how rewarding it is to do something meaningful.
When I saw a position at this company, I thought, "This is the right role for me." Luckily, I received the job offer.
I was happy to work in a field that aligned with my values.
What kind of company is CnerG, and what does the company do?
CnerG is a company focused on renewable energy and carbon credit markets.
Our clients are companies that either voluntarily or due to industry regulations want to become more sustainable and responsible. They may want to purchase renewable energy or offset their carbon emissions by buying carbon credits.
That's where CnerG comes in.
There are many regulations governing these markets, so companies can't simply buy carbon credits or renewable energy certificates without understanding which options are suitable for them.
CnerG helps businesses navigate those regulations by providing expert guidance and making it easier to procure the right environmental commodities.
What is your role at CnerG?
My role as a marketing lead is to attract new customers effectively.
Since the renewable energy and carbon markets are highly technical and heavily regulated, I'm in charge of assessing and explaining everything to our clients. The goal is to demonstrate our expertise while helping potential clients understand how these markets work.
Although my primary focus has always been digital marketing, I have taken on broader responsibilities, including developing strategy, establishing marketing processes and launching new channels and initiatives.
Overall, my work involves creating marketing assets and content, managing our website and digital channels, and running paid online campaigns that help us attract new clients and generate leads from companies interested in working with us.
What helped you prepare for yo...
[Hired in Korea]
As more internationals look to build careers in Korea, many find themselves facing practical hurdles — from limited guidance to a lack of firsthand experience. To bridge that gap, the Korea JoongAng Daily talks with professionals who have carved out their paths in diverse fields, offering readers real-world insights on how to start their careers in the country in this series "Hired in Korea."
While running her own paper recycling business in Russia, Marina Neretina wanted a bigger opportunity in a country with a completely different culture, and she chose Korea.
Neretina went on to earn a master's degree in international business from Ewha Womans University and now works as the marketing lead at sustainability startup CnerG.
CnerG runs a global digital marketplace that helps companies procure environmental commodities, including international renewable energy certificates and carbon credits.
"I was always interested in marketing and sustainable development, so I would say what I'm doing now is almost the perfect role for me," Neretina told the Korea JoongAng Daily. "It all started with making handmade paper, which made me wonder, 'Why don't we find better ways to recycle paper?'"
"Now I've built the company's marketing system almost from scratch, and I'm happy to see not only my own professional growth but also the growth of the sustainability industry here in Korea," she added.
The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Neretina to learn more about her journey, the challenges of building a career in Korea as a foreign professional and her advice for others hoping to do the same.
Q. Have you always been interested in sustainable development?
A. Yeah, because I've always wanted to have a bigger purpose.
Working in the sustainability sector, I feel like I'm contributing to a business that helps the environment, which gives me a meaningful role in society.
Even though it all started rather randomly when I was making paper crafts, I really enjoyed creating things with paper and eventually started a business. The more I worked on it, the more I realized how rewarding it is to do something meaningful.
When I saw a position at this company, I thought, "This is the right role for me." Luckily, I received the job offer.
I was happy to work in a field that aligned with my values.
What kind of company is CnerG, and what does the company do?
CnerG is a company focused on renewable energy and carbon credit markets.
Our clients are companies that either voluntarily or due to industry regulations want to become more sustainable and responsible. They may want to purchase renewable energy or offset their carbon emissions by buying carbon credits.
That's where CnerG comes in.
There are many regulations governing these markets, so companies can't simply buy carbon credits or renewable energy certificates without understanding which options are suitable for them.
CnerG helps businesses navigate those regulations by providing expert guidance and making it easier to procure the right environmental commodities.
What is your role at CnerG?
My role as a marketing lead is to attract new customers effectively.
Since the renewable energy and carbon markets are highly technical and heavily regulated, I'm in charge of assessing and explaining everything to our clients. The goal is to demonstrate our expertise while helping potential clients understand how these markets work.
Although my primary focus has always been digital marketing, I have taken on broader responsibilities, including developing strategy, establishing marketing processes and launching new channels and initiatives.
Overall, my work involves creating marketing assets and content, managing our website and digital channels, and running paid online campaigns that help us attract new clients and generate leads from companies interested in working with us.
What helped you prepare for yo...