Surge in Indonesians Seeking Work in Korea; Government Seeks to Expand 2027 Employment Quota

【JAKARTA, Indonesia—Aulia Maulida Hamdani, correspondent】The Indonesian government is seeking to expand the 2027 employment quota for South Korea in response to strong demand among its citizens seeking jobs in South Korea’s manufacturing sector.
According to local media on the 13th, Indonesia’s Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers, Mukhtarudin, made the remarks after visiting a skills-test site in Semarang, Central Java, the previous day. The test was for applicants seeking manufacturing jobs through the Employment Permit System (EPS) between the South Korean and Indonesian governments.
A total of 2,020 Indonesians seeking jobs in South Korea who had passed the Employment Permit System–Test of Proficiency in Korean (EPS-TOPIK) took part in the skills test. They took the test organized by the Indonesia EPS Center under the Human Resources Development Service of Korea.
“This shows that Indonesian citizens have a very high level of interest in working in South Korea, particularly in manufacturing,” Minister Mukhtarudin said. About 17,000 people applied, and 2,020 who passed document screening and the Korean-language test advanced to the skills-test stage. He explained that participants came from 22 provinces across Indonesia, showing that interest in working in South Korea is spreading nationwide.
Reflecting this demand, Minister Mukhtarudin asked the South Korean side to consider expanding the employment quota for Indonesian workers in 2027.
However, passing the skills test does not guarantee employment. Successful candidates must first be registered on the job-seeker roster and then selected by a South Korean employer to secure a job.
Minister Mukhtarudin urged applicants to build their expertise and prepare thoroughly for the employment process. He particularly emphasized the need to beware of scams by illegal brokers touting quick departures, high wages, or alternative routes to employment.
The Indonesian government plans to expand overseas employment opportunities for its workers and strengthen protections in a range of fields, including not only manufacturing but also caregiving, nursing, agriculture, and fisheries.
[email protected] Aulia Maulida Hamdani, correspondent Reporter