The Korea Employment Permit System (EPS) in Nepal is preparing to conduct the Korean Language Test within July, earlier than in previous years. It is mandatory for candidates to pass the language test to be eligible for jobs in South Korea.

Dili Ram Bastola, chief of the EPS division under the Department of Foreign Employment, said the South Korean Human Resource Department has proposed an early test this year.

“Preparations are going on to conduct the test in Ashad (June-July) though we have yet to fix the date. The exam schedule and the application date will be decided soon,” said Bastola.

Officials said applications will be collected from various places across the country. Earlier, the Korean HRD had been planning for online application. Now on, youths will also have to undergo screening for tuberculosis to qualify for Korean jobs.

South Korea is considered an affordable and lucrative destination for Nepali migrant workers where one can earn up to $1,000 monthly. Although Korea only offers unskilled jobs in manufacturing, agriculture and livestock sectors, many skilled people also apply for the jobs due to the high pay.

Under the EPS, South Korea has been recruiting workers from 15 countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. South Korea attached priority to Nepali workers due to their good track record and increasing popularity among the employers. The HRD has not yet unveiled the job quotas for 2016.