More than 103,000 Nepali youths have applied to work in South Korea, despite the quota being limited to 5,300 workers.
According to the EPS (Employment Permit System) Korea branch under the Department of Foreign Employment, South Korea allocated 5,300 slots in the manufacturing and agriculture–livestock sectors for 2025.
During the application period from August 11 to 16, a total of 103,000 individuals submitted online applications to take the Korean language test. The branch stated that preliminary verification of the applications is now underway. The language test will be held in a maximum of five shifts per day, and only those who pass will be eligible to compete in the final selection process for employment.
The EPS exam in Nepal attracts massive interest every year. The main reasons are South Korea’s comparatively higher wages, regulated labor market, and worker-friendly environment.
The overwhelming number of applications against limited quotas reflects the strong appeal of the South Korean labor market among Nepalis.
