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EPS-TOPIK Employment Permit System Korean Language Test

Organizer: Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK)

This is the Korean exam taken in your home country by foreigners who want to work in manufacturing, agriculture and livestock, fishing, construction, services, and more on a non-professional employment (E-9) visa. If you pass, you are added to the foreign job-seeker roster, and Korean employers can hire you.

Mr. Gaon

Work sites always use workplace vocabulary and safety signs. Build a strong base with numbers, time, and sign words first!

Who can see it?

  • Citizens of the 17 sending countries: Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Laos, Tajikistan
  • Aged 18 to 39
  • No criminal record of imprisonment or heavier, no history of forced deportation or departure from Korea, and no exit ban
  • Must not have stayed in Korea for a total of 5 years or more under non-professional employment (E-9) and crew employment (E-10)

Exam structure

All questions are multiple choice with 4 options, taken on a computer (CBT) or tablet (UBT). The questions are not made public.

SectionQuestionsPointsTime
Reading (vocabulary/grammar, practical materials, reading comprehension)205025 minutes
Listening (sounds, pictures/photos, conversations/stories)205025 minutes
Total4010050 minutes

How is a pass decided?

It is a relative evaluation, not an absolute score. Among those who reach the minimum score for their industry, candidates are chosen in order of score up to the quota for each country.

Manufacturing
60 or higher out of 100
Other industries
45 or higher
Special provision for fishing
30 or higher (pass/fail)

⚠️ The criteria are written differently in different guides. Always check the latest criteria in each country's exam announcement.

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Selection point system and skills test

If you pass the Korean test (1st stage), you take the skills test (2nd stage). The 1st stage is 100 points, the 2nd is 100 points, plus 5 bonus points for job skills, selecting from a total of 205 points.

  • Physical fitness test: grip strength, back strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and so on
  • Korean interview: self-introduction, basic conversation and understanding work instructions, safety awareness
  • Basic skills: common tasks and industry-specific tasks

Application, exam fee, and validity

Register
In person at the sending agency in your home country (no applications by proxy or in groups)
Exam fee
USD 28 (USD 24 for the Philippines)
Pass validity
2 years from the date the pass is announced
Events
Varies by country; check the exam schedule on the HRDK EPS-TOPIK site

⚠️ If your name or date of birth differs from your passport, you may not be allowed to enter Korea even if you pass. If you cheat, you cannot take the exam for 4 years.

Special Korean language test

A separate exam for diligent workers who completed their stay and returned home on their own, so that they can work in Korea again. Candidates are chosen from those who score 120 or higher out of 200. Check the official guide for detailed eligibility.

Free official study materials

  • Korean standard textbook (2025 revised edition)
  • Public question book: 960 listening and 960 reading questions (MP3 included)
  • Self-study supplementary materials by country
  • Skills test guidebook

Prepare with OpenHangul

Beginner class: greetings, numbers, time, places →Picture vocabulary: signs →Reading numbers and units →Korean for the workplace →Check your skills with a TOPIK I mock test →

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the EPS-TOPIK in Korea?

No. The regular EPS-TOPIK is registered through the sending agency in your home country and taken at a test center there.

Can I go to Korea right after passing?

No. If you pass, you are added to the foreign job-seeker roster, and a Korean employer must decide to hire you. A pass is valid for 2 years.

If I have a TOPIK level, do I not need to take the EPS-TOPIK?

No. The two exams have different purposes. To work under the Employment Permit System (E-9), you need the EPS-TOPIK.

Based on official websites and the original text of the laws (2026-10-14). Exam details can change. Always check the official website before you apply.

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