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Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan will appoint a police attaché in South Korea to oversee the conduct of its citizens abroad, including monitoring cases of illegal migration and unauthorized employment.
The decision was announced following a meeting between First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askar Yertayev and representatives of the Interior and Foreign Ministries. All violations will be recorded and shared with the competent authorities of both countries.
Talks on joining EPS program
Kazakhstan is currently negotiating accession to South Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS), which allows foreign nationals from partner countries to legally work in the country. The program, introduced in 2004, regulates temporary labor migration for low-skilled workers and now covers around 20 countries.
The Ministry of Labor confirmed that Kazakhstan remains at the first stage of the accession process. Under South Korean law, approval requires three steps: domestic coordination, inspection of EPS center facilities, and a final decision by an inter-agency commission in Korea.
So far, Kazakhstan has opened one EPS preparation center in Almaty region, where prospective workers can attend language courses, take Korean language and law exams, and undergo medical checks before employment.
Condition from Korean side
In August 2025, South Korea requested that Kazakhstan provide a plan to reduce the number of illegal migrants before joining EPS. According to previous estimates, 7,000–8,000 Kazakhstanis have been working illegally in South Korea since 2023, while officials acknowledged in late 2024 that the real number could be closer to 15,000.
Illegal migrants are expected to face readmission procedures, meaning they will be returned to Kazakhstan as part of bilateral agreements.
Who can apply for EPS
The EPS program is open to citizens of partner countries aged 18 to 39 who are in good health, have no criminal record, have not previously violated Korean migration laws, and can pass the required Korean language test (TOPIK or EPS-TOPIK).
Eligible industries include manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, construction and services. Contracts typically last one year, with the possibility of renewal up to 4 years and 10 months — a term deliberately set to prevent automatic permanent residency.
