Working in South Korea: Ministry of Labour Outlines Requirements and Conditions for Kazakhstanis

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan has explained the rules and selection procedure for citizens seeking legal employment in South Korea. Recruitment will be carried out according to quotas through the Employment Permit System (EPS), Tiek.kz reports.

Key Requirements for Applicants

To participate in the employment programme, candidates must meet a number of strict criteria. Applicants will be assessed using a points-based system that takes into account education, work experience and professional certifications.

Key requirements include:

• Age: 18 to 39 years old.
• Legal status: no criminal record, no restrictions on leaving Kazakhstan, and no previous deportation from or entry ban to South Korea.
• Language and skills: applicants must pass the Korean-language proficiency test (EPS-TOPIK) and undergo an independent assessment of their professional competencies.

How Does the Selection Process Work?

The practical selection stage will begin once a specialised EPS Centre opens in Almaty. Candidates who successfully complete all stages of testing will be entered into the official applicant registry.

The application will include information about the candidate’s education, work experience, test results and preferred field of employment.

The Ministry of Labour stressed an important point: passing the exams and being included in the official pool of candidates do not guarantee automatic employment.

The final decision is made exclusively by the South Korean employer, who selects a suitable employee from the database. The number of available jobs is also strictly limited by annual quotas set by the South Korean side.

Contract and Employment Period

If an employer selects a candidate, the applicant will receive a draft employment contract detailing their duties, working hours and employment conditions.

• Preparation and departure: After both parties sign the contract, the worker must complete mandatory pre-departure training at the EPS Centre in Almaty, obtain a work visa and only then travel to South Korea.
• Employment period: The standard EPS employment period is up to three years. In cases provided for by law, the contract can be extended for another 1 year and 10 months. Workers who complete their full employment period responsibly and voluntarily return to Kazakhstan receive preferential conditions for legal re-employment in South Korea in the future.

Beware of Scammers!

The ministry strongly urges Kazakhstanis to rely only on official information from government authorities and avoid dealing with questionable intermediaries.

“Do not hand over your documents or money to private intermediaries who promise ‘100% employment’, ‘accelerated selection’ or ‘inclusion in the lists out of turn’. No intermediary can guarantee you a job in South Korea, as the final selection is always made by the South Korean employer,” the ministry warned.

The exact registration start date, document submission procedure and EPS-TOPIK examination schedule will be announced separately.