Everything About EPS-TOPIK

Are you looking for a job in South Korea’s ever-growing labor market? The EPS (employment permit system) is one such option.

You need to learn Korean and take the EPS TOPIK test.

Do you want to know more about test centers and eligibility to how you can apply and prepare? Well, this article will cover everything about it.

Read along.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is EPS (Employment Permit System)?
• What is EPS TOPIK?
  • Who conducts the test?
  • What is the purpose?
  • Eligibility criteria for the applicants
• Overview of the EPS TOPIK
  • Test structure
  • The examination curriculum
  • How to pass EPS-TOPIK?
  • How to apply?
  • The validity of EPS TOPIK
  • Testing centers across the world
  • EPS TOPIK 2024 Dates
  • The examination fee
• How to prepare?

What is EPS (Employment Permit System)?

There was a time when the Republic of Korea used to be a net exporter of immigrants.

Today, the economy’s high growth and rapid development made it an attractive destination for employees worldwide.

The young and educated South Koreans in their ’20s and ’30s prefer to work in big firms like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, POSCO, and Kia motors.

Because of all these, there was always a shortage of enough workforce across industries.

The government started the EPS to help SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) solve their shortfalls. These private sector businesses make up 99.9% of the total Korean companies.

The EPS is a bilateral cooperation between two governments to ease the labor migration process.

They implemented excellent global practices to hire low-skilled foreign workers for jobs in Korea.

In 2014, when they were founded, the Korean government had a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with only 6 nations. Today, in 2024, it has increased to 16 countries.

What is EPS TOPIK?

EPS-TOPIK, i.e., Employment Permit System – Test of Proficiency in Korean, is a specialized Korean ability test.

The KLAT or TOPIK are general tests useful for various purposes. In contrast, this is a special test for a particular purpose, i.e., to get foreign workers for the Korean labor market.

Who conducts the test?

The Human Resources Development Service of South Korea administers the test.

The HRD Korea operates under South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor.

They also a collaboration with different governments that help them organize the test.

What is the purpose?

They designed it to measure the Korean skill of migrant workers.

This is to ensure they can work in an environment where everyone speaks Korean and follows a distinct culture.

Do you want to work in Korea’s manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and the heavy and light industry?

In that case, the EPS TOPIK score can be a real benefit.

Per your performance, you will qualify to apply for jobs in South Korea.

First, submit your job application through the designated agency allowed by the government.

Most of these EPS jobs have a valid term of 1 year from the day of approval. If all goes fine, you get a working visa (E-9).

Eligibility criteria for the applicants

Here are a few requirements:

1. The age should be between 19 and 39 (Male or Female).
2. There should not be any criminal history in the home country. Plus, there must not be any restrictions on immigration either.
3. The applicant must not have records of illegal stay or deportation from South Korea.
4. The person must be from one of the eligible nations and meet the acceptability specifications decided by both countries.
5. There should be proper physical and mental fitness to work in Korea.
6. If earlier worked in Korea, the candidate must have completed the required period before returning to Korea.

Overview of the EPS TOPIK

Let’s find out everything about the test.

Test structure

This is a single-level exam. There are two sections:

• Listening: 20 questions — 100 points, 25 minutes.
• Reading: 20 questions — 100 points, 25 minutes

The total number of questions is 40, and the duration is 50 minutes. There is no break between these two modules.

Candidates can choose between two methods:

• PBT (Paper-Based Test), and
• CBT (Computer-Based Test).

All questions are MCQ (Multiple-Choice Questions), and you have to pick one correct answer out of 4 choices.

The examination curriculum

This tests your basic understanding of Korean society, business culture, and industry-specific information.

You also need beginner communication skills in the Korean language to perform daily activities.

The reading segment has elementary vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and practical day-to-day duties.

The listening contains basic conversation, pronunciation, and visual data for regular work.

How to pass EPS-TOPIK?

To pass, candidates need at least 80 out of 200 marks. They also maintain a list that has the highest score from the top.

The final selection, though, depends on the other eligibility criteria and the total number of applicants. HRD Korea decides this.

How to apply?

There are two ways to register for the test — offline and online.

You can visit the approved place. Fill out the form, choose the dates and test center, and submit the registration fee.

You can register online on the government website when dates are available. This is the simplest way.

Fill out the form with personal details and things related to this test. Attach the scanned copy of your passport and photo. Finally, complete the form and pay the cost.

The validity of EPS TOPIK

The score is valid for only two years from the date of test result announcements.

Once the actual term expires, one has to retake to apply for EPS jobs in Korea.

Testing centers across the world

As of January 2024, there are 27 EPS-TOPIK centers in 16 countries. All these locations are in East, Central, and South Asia.

The testing centers depend on the MoU between the two countries.

If your country is not on the list, there is no arrangement, and you’re not eligible to appear for the test.

EPS TOPIK 2024 Dates

They conduct the test once a year. The EPS TOPIK test dates and timing vary depending on the test centers. They often declare the result within 2-4 weeks.

You can get in touch with the respective center for more details.

Because of various reasons, they might postpone or cancel the upcoming test. So, contact or visit their official website for the latest updates.

The examination fee

The exam fee differs depending on the country, but it can range between $20 to $40.

How to prepare?

The HRD Korea has published a book, “the standard Korean textbook.” This is mainly to study EPS TOPIK.

This covers the syllabus, from basic Korean language skills to work-related content.

You can download the entire lesson from the site. — LINK.

There are tons of reading and listening study materials and sample papers to help you prepare. You can also find several e-books for country-specific language and translated content.