The deadline for finalizing the agreement on the Employment Permit System (EPS) program, which would allow Kazakhstani citizens to work legally in South Korea, has been delayed. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev expressed doubts about completing the process by the end of 2024, as previously pledged by Minister of Labor Svetlana Zhakupova.
«The agreement will be signed soon. South Korean authorities are regularly inquiring not only with the Ministry of Labor but also with other state agencies. They must provide responses based on which South Korea will draft the text of the agreement and shape its position toward Kazakhstani citizens. I am not sure if we will sign the document by the end of this year,» Bakayev explained on the sidelines of a plenary session in the Senate.
According to him, the signing itself is a quick process, in contrast to the preparatory stage, which is time-consuming for both parties.
He also revealed that, in most cases, Kazakhstani citizens violate South Korean migration laws on purpose.
«When traveling visa-free, our citizens should clearly understand the rules, including the permitted visa-free duration of stay and the required documents for a visa extension. Unfortunately, it is often the fault of our citizens as they knowingly overstay in South Korea, fully aware that they are violating visa regulations,» he said.
In late November, Kursiv.media reported that Zhakupova claimed the EPS agreement signing process had stalled due to a leadership change at South Korea’s labor ministry. However, she expressed hope that the agreement would be signed by the end of 2024.
