Vietnam Expands Opportunities for Unskilled Workers in South Korea's Core Industries

Vietnam is expanding opportunities for its unskilled workforce to find employment in South Korea's core industries, particularly welding and mold making. The 2026 program, a collaboration between Vietnam's Center for Overseas Labor and South Korea's HRD Korea, aims to address labor shortages in these sectors.

Unlike the highly competitive EPS program for manufacturing, this initiative does not require prior skills. After a preliminary selection, workers receive free training in basic welding or mold-making techniques and Korean language proficiency. They can take the Korean language test twice within a single registration period, with a passing score of 90 out of 200 points.

Those who pass the language test then proceed to a skills assessment and Korean language interview. A total score of 120 out of 200 points qualifies them to apply for work in South Korea. This is a significantly lower threshold than the 150-180 points typically required for the manufacturing EPS.

The program boasts a 100% success rate for those who meet the selection criteria, with all participants securing employment contracts and departing for South Korea. Since 2018, 764 Vietnamese workers have participated. The 2026 selection has already pre-selected 518 workers, who will undergo training from July to September 2026.

Beyond stable income in modern industrial settings, workers gain valuable skills that can lead to long-term employment in South Korea via E-7 visas for skilled labor. Upon returning to Vietnam, they are also well-positioned for recruitment by major domestic companies.

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The project to select workers for the core industry sector in 2026 will be implemented with many preferential policies and a high success rate.