Candidates who want to go to work in South Korea must pass through three layers of security screening before taking the language test.
On May 5, around 7,900 candidates from northern Vietnam sat the first round of the test in Hanoi. Two additional rounds are scheduled in Danang between May 8 and June 11 for 11,700 central region candidates. In southern Vietnam, nearly 3,200 workers will take the exam in two phases held in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6-7 and May 30–June 17.
Lining up for the exam, Nguyen Thi Huong, 27, from Hung Yen Province, said she hopes to go to South Korea because her current job as a factory worker pays only VND10-12 million (USD400-480) per month, barely enough to cover living expenses. In contrast, South Korean jobs offer three to four times that salary, allowing her to save half if she lives frugally.
Huong applied for the agriculture sector, hoping to join her husband, who passed the language test last year and is now waiting for an employer match.
“Passing the exam is like having one foot in South Korea already. After that, it’s a matter of luck whether I get picked or not,” she said.
Before taking the computer-based test, candidates must pass through three layers of security screening to prevent cheating. Any violation leads to disqualification and a four-year ban from retaking the exam.
According to Dang Huy Hong, Director of the Centre for Overseas Labour, this year, the manufacturing sector attracted over 21,400 applicants for just 3,000 spots. In comparison, the agriculture sector drew 1,400 applicants for only 300 openings. Despite reduced quotas from the South Korean side compared to 2024, Vietnam still aims to send around 8,000 workers by the end of the year.
The Employment Permit System for Vietnamese workers in South Korea began in 2004. Under the system, South Korean employers select candidates randomly from a pool of qualified applicants, no direct hiring is allowed. Those who pass the language and skills tests can submit their profiles for employer review but are not guaranteed a job. Authorities advise workers to continue working their current jobs while waiting for an offer.
As of October 2024, more than 650,000 Vietnamese are working in over 40 countries and territories, collectively sending home USD3.5-4 billion in annual remittances. Workers in South Korea earn the highest monthly incomes, between USD1,600 and 2,000, followed by Japan (USD1,200-1,500), Taiwan (USD800-1,200), and some European nations offering similar rates. In contrast, Middle Eastern countries and Malaysia offer lower wages, USD600-1,000 for skilled workers and USD400-600 for unskilled labourers.
