KATHMANDU: The EPS Korea Section has opened applications for the Employment Permit System (EPS) Korean Language Test, offering 7,200 quotas for Nepali workers seeking employment in South Korea.

According to a notice issued on Tuesday, applications have been invited for 5,000 positions in the manufacturing sector, 2,000 in agriculture and livestock, 100 in the service sector, and 100 in forestry. However, the final number of successful candidates may vary depending on South Korea’s labor demand under the Point-Based Selection System.

Applicants are allowed to apply for only one sector, and those who pass the first-stage language test will not be permitted to change their selected sector. Candidates must also pass the second-stage skills test and competency assessment after clearing the language examination to be eligible for final selection.

To qualify, applicants must be between 18 and 39 years of age, meaning they must have been born between July 28, 1986, and July 27, 2008. They must not have been convicted of a criminal offense, deported from South Korea for illegal stay, or stayed in South Korea for more than five years under E-9 or E-10 visas. Individuals with color blindness or color weakness are also ineligible to apply.

Applications will be accepted from July 27 to August 2 through the EPS Korea Section’s online portal. Applicants are required to provide a valid mobile phone number and email address during registration. The EPS Korea Section also clarified that passing the Korean language test does not guarantee employment in South Korea, as candidates must complete all subsequent selection procedures successfully.