How to Work in South Korea as a Factory Worker

Disclaimer: This is just for educational/informational article for those people who are also planning to work in South Korea.

I have been searching and watching vlogs of those people, particularly females, who are currently working in South Korea as factory workers. Perhaps, this is now the effect of watching too many Korean dramas that I am also now aspiring to work in that country as a factory worker just so I can fulfill my dream of living my Korean dream life.

So one of the most common jobs available for Filipinos in South Korea is being a factory worker. The work of the one I have watched before was in a cosmetics factory, which is a usual job for female factory workers. And their minimum salary per month is about 80,000 pesos ($1,560) and can even go up to 100,000 pesos ($1,950) and above depending on the worker if he wants to do overtime work.

And upon learning their monthly salary, I was like, "Okay. Let's do it. Let's go to South Korea. So how to apply as a Factory worker in South Korea?"

So I watched again some vlogs and posts explaining the whole process of application and this is what I found out.

The whole process is a Government to Government system, which means that there is no other legal agency aside from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA.

For the Requirements:

• Open for males and females aged from 18 to 39 years old.

• No criminal record.

• No record of deportation from South Korea.

• And has a Valid Passport.

For the Process of Application:

1. Online Registration on POEA

• The first thing you need to do if you are planning to work abroad, particularly in South Korea is to register on the POEA website or www.poea.gov.ph. You will have to save your online registration number because you will be needing it to take the EPS-TOPIK exam.

2. Study the Korean Language

• Before you get to work in South Korea, you need to study the Korean language first to make sure that you can communicate well, and also to pass the Topik exam. You can either enroll in a language training center or you can also self-study using the online materials you can find.

3. EPS Survey

• This is the time when the POEA will make an announcement regarding the schedule of when can you take the EPS-Topik exam, and it is also when you are going to register to take the exam if you are already confident that you already learned the Korean language. According to what I have watched, POEA will only open the registration for only up to 2 days because there are a lot who are going to register for the exam. So it's more like a first-come-first-serve basis.

4. EPS-TOPIK Examination

• Once you already have a schedule, it's now time to take the EPS-TOPIK Exam or Employment Permit System Test of Proficiency in Korean Language Exam. There are two types of exam, the PBT or Paper-based Test (where you take the test through pen and paper, and the result will come out after 2 to 3 weeks) and the CBT or Computer-based Test (where you take the exam via computer and the result will come out after taking the exam).

5. Make EPS Account

• After taking the exam, it's now time to make an EPS account on the HRD Korea (Human Resources Development Service of Korea) website or eps.hrdkorea.or.kr where you will need your passport and online registration number. This is where you will be notified if you passed or failed the EPS Topik exam.

6. 2nd round exam- Skills Test

• This is only for those who were able to pass the exam and qualified for the second round.

• In the skills test, there are different types of tests. The Basic Skills Test is where you have to choose between measures, assemble, or wood joinery (the kind of industries you are aligned to). The Physical Test is where your physical strength is measured through handgrip, strength, weight, and height. The Interview and Experience (Competency) test is where you're going to introduce yourself in Korean, identify the tools using the Korean language, talk about your job experience in the manufacturing industry, your educational background, and National Certificates (it's not required but it has additional points).

7. First Medical Examination

• If you passed the 2nd round exam, you will now proceed with your 1st medical examination to know if you are healthy and fit to work or if you have medical problems.

8. Employer's Selection

• Once you're done with your medical exam, you now have to submit your documents to POEA, be one of the applicants on the waiting list, and wait for your application to be approved. The approval will take about 2 months to process.

9. Contract Signing and VISA Processing

• If an employer chose you, you may now proceed to the contract signing, and get an employment permit issuance or your VISA.

10. Training in POEA/ Refresher Course

• Once you're done processing your contract and VISA, POEA will require you to have a certain training or refresher course about the language and the work you will do.

11. Submit New Medical Exam

• You will be asked to submit a new medical exam from the recommended hospitals of POEA, specifically the St. Luke's Hospital and Makati Medical Center.

12. Attend PDOS (Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar)

• POEA will conduct a short briefing about the things you need to know when you're already in South Korea. They will also distribute your EPS Uniform and other documents. After the PDOS, you'll have to wait for 1 to 2 days before going to South Korea.

13. Training in South Korea

• Once you have already arrived in the country, they will require you to have another medical exam and stay in a Training Center for 3 days.

14. Turnover to the Employer

• After the training, the employer will pick you up at the training center and you may now start your work at the manufacturing company you will be assigned to.

15. Enjoy South Korea

• Well, after all this long process, you may now enjoy living your South Korean dream life and find your own oppa in the Kimchi Land.

The process of applying for work in South Korea is not a joke but if you get to succeed with it and actually work there, I believe all of the efforts and sacrifices will be paid off in the end.

So are you also planning to work in South Korea as a Factory Worker? Then what are you waiting for? Go for it! 화이팅!