South Korea Opens Legal Factory and Cleaning Jobs to Kazakhstanis
Illustration: Orda.kz
Kazakh citizens will be able to apply for jobs in South Korea through its state-run Employment Permit System beginning in 2028, Orda.kz reports, citing The Korea Herald.
Kazakhstan has become the 18th country admitted to the program. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan already participate from Central Asia.
The Employment Permit System allows South Korean companies to recruit foreign workers for jobs they cannot fill locally. Kazakhstanis will be able to apply for E-9 visas for employment in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, hotels and cleaning services.
The visa allows its holder to work in the country for up to three years, with a possible extension of another 22 months.
Kazakhstan had sought admission to the program for several years. As recently as August 2025, the Ministry of Labor said it was still awaiting a decision from South Korea.
Around 15,000 Kazakhstanis worked in South Korea in 2025, according to official figures. Approximately 11,000 of them were believed to be working without legal status.
In early 2026, South Korea allowed undocumented Kazakh citizens to leave voluntarily without fines or future entry restrictions.
Read also:
Latest news
- “He Was Not Ready”: Japarov Drops Plan to Back Tashiev and Will Seek Re-Election
- Domestic Violence Center Lawyer Convicted of Assaulting His Wife
- South Korea Opens Legal Factory and Cleaning Jobs to Kazakhstanis
- Almaty Petition Calls for Halt to Covering Open Irrigation Channels
- Rare Vulture Tagged in Kazakhstan to Track Its Migration
- Kazakhstan’s First 50 MW Data Center to Launch in June 2027
- KNB Service Dog Returns to Auction With Minimum Price of About 20 Cents
- Kazakhtelecom Finds No Internal Fault as Telegram Problems Continue
- Telegram Disruptions Reported Across Kazakhstan
- Employee Numbers Rise as Self-Employment Declines in Kazakhstan
- Kazakhstan’s Maritime Companies Earn More From Vessel Charters Than Shipping
- Digital Ministry Comments on Alleged Leak of 15 Million Kazakhstanis’ Data
- German Couple Dies in Akmola Region Highway Crash
- State Agencies to Receive Top Score When Citizens Leave No Feedback
- Kazakhmys Copper Seeks KASE Delisting After Major Dividend Payout
- Ukraine Stops Attacks on Tankers Carrying Kazakh Oil After U.S. Pressure
- Possible Leak of 15 Million Kazakhstanis’ Data Under Investigation
- Kazakhstan Opens Criminal Case Against Journalist Over Report on Russia’s War Recruits
- LRT in Almaty Could Launch by the End of 2027
- Suspect in 2.5 Billion Tenge Cash-Out Scheme Extradited From South Korea
