Pass of Korean Language Proficiency Test
Applicants for Korean Language Proficiency Test
- Foreign workers who intend to engage in employment in the Republic of Korea under Non-professional Employment (E-9) status must pass the Korean Language Proficiency Test conducted in their home country (Article 7 Section 2 of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers).
- The Korean Language Proficiency Test is waived for the foreign workers under Working Visit (H-2) status who are eligible for exceptionally permissible employment.
- Foreign workers who intend to work again in the Republic of Korea after the lapse of 6 months from the date of his/her departure from the Republic of Korea due to expiration of the 3 years of employment must pass the Korean Language Proficiency Test.
Eligibility of Applicants
- Applicants of the Korean Language Proficiency Test must satisfy all of the followings:
√ age from 18 to 39;
√ having no criminal records equivalent to or more serious than imprisonment;
√ having no records of deportation or measures requiring them to depart from the Republic of Korea; and
√ having no restriction (reasons for disqualification) on departure from their home country.
Conducting the Korean Language Proficiency Test
- The Korean Language Proficiency Test shall be conducted at least once annually in the form of a written test that consists of multiple-choice questions in principle; however, essay questions may be additionally included (Article 13 Section 3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers).
※ For further details about the Korean Language Proficiency Test, please see the ≪Major Projects Supporting Foreign Workers Employment≫ tab on the website of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea at
www.hrdkorea.or.kr.
Qualifications Evaluation
Methods and Details of Qualifications Evaluation
- Methods of qualifications evaluation consist of written test, skill test, and oral test (Article 13-2 Section 1 Subsection 1 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers).
- Details of qualifications evaluation are as follows (Article 13-2 Section 1 Subsection 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers):
· Level of skills necessary to engage in the chosen category of business;
· Physical fitness of foreign job-seekers;
· Employment experience; and
· Other matters deemed necessary to evaluate whether or not to meet the demand for human resources.
Completion of Employment Training for Foreign Workers
Mandatory Training
- Every foreign worker who enters the Republic of Korea to engage in employment (under either Non-professional Employment (E-9) or Working Visit (H-2) status) must receive employment training provided by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea or an employment education institution for foreigners within 15 days after his/her entry into the Republic of Korea (Article 11 of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers and Article 11 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers).
- Expenses incurred in employment training for foreign workers under Non-professional Employment (E-9) status shall be covered by employers who hire such foreign workers (Article 11 Section 4 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers).
- Expenses incurred in employment training for foreign workers under Working Visit (H-2) status shall be covered by themselves.
Hours and Details of Training
- The hours of employment training for foreign workers shall be at least 16 hours. However, if a foreign worker who reenters Korea through the required legal procedures after the employment period has expired, the hours of employment training for such foreign worker may be reduced to less than 16 hours (Article 11 Section 2 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers).
- The curriculum of employment training for foreign workers shall include the following matters (the main body of Article 11 Section 3 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers):
1. Matters concerning basic job skills by category of business necessary for employment activities;
2. Matters concerning the employment permit program for foreign workers;
3. Matters concerning occupational safety and health;
4. Matters concerning the relevant Acts and subordinate statutes, including the Labor Standards Act, the Immigration Act, etc.;
5. Matters concerning the culture and life in Korea; and
6. Other matters recognized by the Minister of Employment and Labor as necessary for employment activities.
- For foreign workers reentering the Republic of Korea after having left it due to the expiration of employment period who are eligible for exceptionally permissible employment, the content falling under the above subsection 1 and 5 shall be omitted from the relevant employment training (the provisory clause of Article 11 Section 3 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers).
Issuance of Certificate of Employment Training
- Upon completion of the employment training for foreign workers, foreign workers will receive a certificate of employment training (Article 11(4) and Appendix 8 of the Enforcement Rule of the Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers).