South Korean Job Market Becomes Less Challenging for Kazakhstani Job Seekers
South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS), introduced in 2004, is a government program that allows foreign nationals from partner countries to work legally in sectors facing labor shortages. The system is regulated by the Korean Ministry of Labor and Employment.
Currently, countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, and others have a bilateral EPS agreement with South Korea. However, Kazakhstan is not yet formally included in the program.
Recent high-level meetings between Kazakhstan's First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Askarbek Yertaev, and South Korean Ambassador Cho Tae-Ick have focused on advancing Kazakhstan's inclusion in EPS. The discussions aim to ensure legal, safe, and managed employment of Kazakh citizens in South Korea.
As of August 2025, discussions and cooperation efforts continue, indicating that Kazakhstan may soon gain access to jobs in South Korea through the EPS. However, no official agreement or formal accession appears to have been completed yet.
The age requirement for EPS workers is usually between 18 and 39 years old. Candidates must meet specific requirements such as good health, no criminal record, no violations of Korean immigration rules, and sufficient Korean language proficiency, as demonstrated by the TOPIK or EPS-TOPIK test.
The contract duration for EPS workers is usually one year, renewable up to a maximum of 4 years and 10 months to avoid automatic permanent residency. The EPS program primarily caters to unskilled and semi-skilled workers, typically in sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, construction, and services.
The process of Kazakhstan joining the EPS has slowed down due to a change of government in South Korea. Nevertheless, the South Korean Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Cho Tae-yong, expressed expectations that the EPS system would be implemented in 2024. The details of Kazakhstan's potential participation in the EPS have not been publicly disclosed.
The Kazakhstan Ministry of Labor is taking active steps to ensure the legal, safe, and orderly employment of its citizens in South Korea. Askarbek Ertaev, the First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Kazakhstan, discussed this issue with Ambassador Cho Tae-yong.
In conclusion, while Kazakhstan is in the process of negotiations and preparations, it has not yet officially joined the South Korean EPS program. The potential benefits for Kazakh workers seeking employment opportunities in South Korea are substantial, and the discussions are a significant step towards facilitating legal and safe employment for Kazakh citizens in South Korea.
- The discussions between Kazakhstan's First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Askarbek Yertaev, and South Korean Ambassador Cho Tae-Ick are aimed at Kazakhstan's formal inclusion in the South Korea Employment Permit System (EPS), which could potentially open up the finance and industry sectors for Kazakh citizens working in South Korea.
- Once Kazakhstan officially joins the South Korean EPS program, it may offer substantial benefits for Kazakh workers seeking employment opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, construction, and services sectors of the South Korean finance and industry.
