Working in South Korea: how much Kazakhstanis could earn
Tengrinews.kz — Kazakhstan is continuing negotiations with South Korea on joining the Employment Permit System (EPS), a legal employment system for foreign workers. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has revealed new details of the process.
What stage are the negotiations at
According to the Ministry of Labor’s response to an official request from the Tengrinews.kz editorial team, Kazakhstan’s inclusion in the EPS system is taking place in three stages:
domestic approval procedures in Korea;inspection of infrastructure and facilities (EPS center);final decision by an interagency commission.
Kazakhstan has already passed the first stage — this was confirmed by the Korean authorities in October 2025.
Note: Employment Permit System (EPS) is South Korea’s official program for regulating temporary labor migration for low-skilled foreign workers. It was introduced in 2004 by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to address labor shortages in small and medium-sized businesses. The program operates on the basis of bilateral memorandums of understanding between South Korea and sending countries. As of 2025, it covers around 20 countries. Its purpose is the organized recruitment, training, and supervision of foreign workers in order to minimize corruption in recruitment and protect migrants’ rights. In 2011, EPS received the first UN Public Service Award for combating corruption and improving migration management.
In January 2026, a South Korean delegation visited Kazakhstan for the second stage. After the visit, the Korean side sent additional questions regarding infrastructure and the organization of the centers’ work.
Where training and testing will take place
The main infrastructure will be concentrated in Almaty and the Almaty Region:
EPS center and EPS-TOPIK testing — in Almaty: up to 500 people at a time; a transparent examination system is promised.
Training and retraining — at training centers in the Almaty Region: modern classrooms and workshops.
Medical examination — at the multidisciplinary hospital in Konaev: a full cycle of examinations.
What sectors Kazakhstanis will be able to work in in South KoreaThe EPS program is focused on employment in shortage sectors:
manufacturing;construction;agriculture;fisheries;certain service sectors.
Salaries
According to the Ministry of Labor, the minimum salary for foreign workers in South Korea may start from $1,000 (458,000 tenge at the current exchange rate), depending on the worker’s qualifications.
Timing and selection process
The ministry said there is still no clear timeline for when Kazakhstanis will be able to go to work in South Korea. This depends on:
the formation of groups;completion of training;passing the EPS-TOPIK exam;coordination with the Korean side.
After training, candidates take a test on the language and legislation. Then a list of those approved for employment is compiled.
Departure is possible only after approval from South Korea and the completion of the required documents.
How long people can go to work for
Length of stay:
up to 3 years;with the possibility of extension up to 4 years and 10 months without leaving the country.
The conditions depend on the contract and South Korean legislation.
Context
The authorities had already announced in 2024 that South Korea would officially accept Kazakh citizens for work. Why this measure has still not been legally finalized can be read in the related report.
In January, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection also addressed Kazakh citizens in South Korea. The ministry reminded them that citizens staying in the republic in violation of migration laws could voluntarily leave the country without fines or a ban on re-entry until the end of February 2026.