Kazakhstan and South Korea sign 13 agreements, including EPS labor migration deal
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Kazakhstan and South Korea signed 13 bilateral agreements during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's state visit to Seoul. The package includes a memorandum enabling Kazakh citizens to work in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS). The EPS deal provides an official mechanism for employment through authorized state agencies.
Key Facts
- Kazakhstan and South Korea exchanged 13 bilateral documents during the state visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Seoul.
- The EPS memorandum allows Kazakh citizens to work in South Korea under the Employment Permit System, which has operated since 2004.
- Under EPS, workers receive an E-9 visa valid for up to three years, extendable to four years and ten months.
- EPS employment covers five sectors: manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, and services.
- The agreements also include cooperation in oil, science and technology, nuclear energy, urban development, air traffic, culture, and forest restoration.
Signed Agreements
The official delegations exchanged 12 intergovernmental and interagency documents in the presence of the two presidents. The documents cover oil cooperation, science and technology talent development, nuclear energy, intellectual property, urban infrastructure, air traffic, energy, digital forest restoration, and cultural cooperation for 2026-2030. A separate memorandum on the preservation and management of historical sites was signed between the culture ministries of Kazakhstan and South Korea.
EPS Labor Migration
The memorandum on EPS was signed between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Employment and Labor of South Korea. The EPS system has operated in South Korea since 2004, providing organized employment for foreign workers at enterprises with labor shortages. The Korean side implements the system through the state service HRD Korea, while the Kazakh side uses an authorized body and labor mobility centers. Under EPS, citizens receive an E-9 visa for up to three years, extendable to four years and ten months, with employment in five sectors: manufacturing, construction, agriculture and livestock, fisheries, and services.
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