The Employment Permit System (EPS) of South Korea is set to open applications for the Korean language proficiency test for Nepali citizens from August 11 to August 16, 2025. The announcement was made on Monday by the EPS section of Nepal’s Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE).
The first phase of the 2025 language test will be conducted in Kathmandu, and successful candidates will be eligible for job placements in South Korea’s manufacturing and livestock farming sectors.
Key Details of the 2025 EPS Language Test:
- Application Period: August 11–16, 2025
- Test Location: Kathmandu
- Sectors Available:
- Manufacturing: 3,500 workers
- Livestock Farming: 1,800 workers
- Total Targeted Recruits: 5,300 Nepali workers
- Eligibility:
- Age between 18 and 39 years
- Can apply for only one sector
- Recruitment Number: Subject to change based on labor demand in South Korea
Background and Statistics:
The EPS system was established under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the governments of Nepal and South Korea in 2007, and the recruitment process has been ongoing since 2008.
In the fiscal year 2024/25, 14,224 Nepalis received labor permits to work in South Korea. To date, over 110,000 Nepali citizens have migrated to South Korea under the EPS system, with approximately 50,000 currently working there.
The EPS program is regarded as one of the most transparent and structured foreign employment systems for Nepali workers, offering relatively higher wages, better working conditions, and regulated recruitment procedures.
