Kazakhstani Citizens Set to Work Legally in South Korea Starting 2028

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, Kazakhstan has officially integrated into South Korea's legal employment framework. The recruitment process for Kazakhstani workers is scheduled to kick off in 2028. This milestone makes Kazakhstan the 18th participant globally in South Korea's E-9 system, joining fellow Central Asian nations Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan on the roster.

To operationalize this agreement, upcoming preparatory steps include signing an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding and establishing a dedicated EPS-TOPIK testing center within Kazakhstan to evaluate Korean language proficiency. This initiative is designed to grant citizens access to official, legitimate job opportunities in South Korea while completely bypassing informal intermediaries.

In the meantime, the ministry has issued a strong warning advising the public to exercise caution ahead of the official launch. Citizens are urged to steer clear of unofficial brokers and scammers demanding upfront fees with promises of guaranteed placement or expedited processing. All stages of the official hiring pipeline - including language assessments, skills evaluations, and medical checks - will follow a strict, standardized protocol.