---
title: "Working in South Korea from Indonesia: EPS and Red Flags"
description: "The legal route for Indonesians to work in South Korea is EPS G to G via KP2MI (E-9 visa): age 18 to 39 and an EPS-TOPIK pass. Pay and red flags."
lang: en
canonical: "https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/"
datePublished: "2026-10-07"
dateModified: "2026-10-08"
sources:
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf"
  - "https://www.eps.go.kr/eo/EmplyPrsykTst.eo?pgID=P_000000035&menuID=10003&langCD=in"
  - "https://www.eps.go.kr/eo/langMain.eo?langCD=in"
  - "https://www.visa.go.kr/openPage.do?MENU_ID=10102&LANG_TYPE=EN"
  - "https://kp2mi.go.id/gtog-korea/pengumuman"
  - "https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/main.do"
  - "https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/customer/notice/view.do?bultnId=4774"
  - "https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/lowongan/list"
---

> Markdown version of https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/. Cite that HTML page and its update date.

# Working in South Korea through legal routes

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by [Kaiser Khan](https://kariraman.com/en/authors/kaiser-khan/) (editor), 8 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

The legal route for Indonesians to work in South Korea is EPS G to G via KP2MI (E-9 visa): age 18 to 39 and an EPS-TOPIK pass. Pay and red flags.

## Summary

- Factory, farm and fishery work in South Korea uses the Employment Permit System (EPS) with the E-9 visa.
- In Indonesia, KP2MI runs EPS as its G to G South Korea programme; its notices are on the KP2MI website.
- Passing EPS-TOPIK only puts you in the job-seeker pool; nobody can guarantee that an employer will choose you.
- South Korea's minimum wage applies to all businesses and rises again from 1 January 2027.
- Under Indonesia's Law 18/2017 Article 30(1), Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs.

## Which legal work routes exist for South Korea?

- **Routes we cover:** 1
- **Routes marked Open:** 1
- **Status last checked:** 7 October 2026

**Summary of legal work routes to South Korea**

| Route | Status | Age | Language tests | Who pays placement costs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/eps-e9-employment-permit/) | Open<br>Status as of 7 October 2026 | 18 to 39 years | EPS-TOPIK (25 listening and 25 reading questions, 70 minutes): Above 80 out of 200, then passed in order of score up to the quota | The employer; the worker pays official programme fees |

[Compare with other routes to work abroad](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/compare/#korea-selatan-eps-e9-employment-permit)

- [Open **Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa** Open through KP2MI's G to G programme. Departures were still running in October 2026. Passing EPS-TOPIK only puts you in the job-seeker pool. Status as of 7 October 2026](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/eps-e9-employment-permit/)

## Which legal route is available to South Korea?

Factory, farm and fishery work in South Korea for Indonesians runs through the Employment Permit System (EPS) of Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor, with the E-9 visa. In Indonesia, KP2MI runs EPS as a G to G programme, and all its notices are on the KP2MI website. Test requirements, official costs, documents and steps are on the page on [the G to G route to Korea](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/eps-e9-employment-permit/).

## What is the minimum wage in South Korea?

South Korea sets one national minimum wage that applies equally to all businesses. For 2027, Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor set it in notice No. 2026-60 of 5 August 2026. The monthly figures in the table are the official conversion for 209 hours a month, not offered wages, and are before tax and insurance.

**South Korea minimum wage, 2026 and 2027**

| Area or group | Official floor | Approximate rupiah value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| South Korea<br>Applies to: All businesses in South Korea | KRW 10,320<br>per hour<br>In force from 1 January 2026 | about IDR 137,875<br>rate as of 8 October 2026 |
| South Korea<br>Applies to: All businesses in South Korea | KRW 10,700<br>per hour<br>KRW 10,320 still applies before 1 January 2027<br>In force from 1 January 2027 | about IDR 142,952<br>rate as of 8 October 2026 |
| South Korea<br>Applies to: All businesses in South Korea | KRW 2,156,880<br>per month, a calculation, not an offered wage<br>In force from 1 January 2026 | about IDR 28,815,917<br>rate as of 8 October 2026 |
| South Korea<br>Applies to: All businesses in South Korea | KRW 2,236,300<br>per month, a calculation, not an offered wage<br>KRW 2,156,880 still applies before 1 January 2027<br>In force from 1 January 2027 | about IDR 29,876,968<br>rate as of 8 October 2026 |

[Minimum Wage Commission, Republic of Korea (최저임금위원회)](https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/main.do) 7 October 2026 [Ministry of Employment and Labor, Republic of Korea (고용노동부)](https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/customer/notice/view.do?bultnId=4774) 7 October 2026

## How can you check that a job offer in Korea is legal?

For the E-9 visa under EPS, check that the stage the recruiter mentions appears in the G to G South Korea notices on the KP2MI website. Nobody can guarantee that an employer will choose you, because passing EPS-TOPIK only puts you in the job-seeker pool. Paste the offer text into [Check a job](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/) to see common warning signs.

## Where can Indonesian workers in South Korea get help?

For help as an Indonesian citizen, including when wages go unpaid or documents are held, contact Kemlu through Peduli WNI or KP2MI through the official channels below.

- **Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)** Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad [+62-812-9007-0027](tel:+6281290070027) [WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027](https://wa.me/6281290070027) [peduliwni.kemlu.go.id](https://peduliwni.kemlu.go.id/beranda.html)
- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)

## Which official channels can you contact?

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Licensed agency (P3MI) list on SISKOP2MI** Check a licensed migrant-worker placement agency and its status [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi)
- **Official overseas job orders on SISKOP2MI** Official job orders for migrant workers [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/lowongan/list)
- **Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)** Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad [+62-812-9007-0027](tel:+6281290070027) [WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027](https://wa.me/6281290070027) [peduliwni.kemlu.go.id](https://peduliwni.kemlu.go.id/beranda.html)

## Frequently asked questions

**Are there routes to South Korea other than EPS?**

This page covers EPS with the E-9 visa, the main route for factory, farm and fishery work. Routes for professionals use other visas with different rules that we have not yet verified. Do not pay anyone for a route you cannot find on an official Korean government or KP2MI website.

**Where are EPS-TOPIK announcements for Indonesia published?**

Announcements of tests, results, the Skill Test, contract issuance and departure dates for Indonesia are on the G to G South Korea page of the KP2MI website. Results can also be checked on the official EPS website.

**What is the age limit for working in South Korea?**

Age limits differ by legal route: Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa: 18 to 39 years. Check the route page again before you apply.

**Which language tests do you need to work in South Korea?**

The language tests the legal routes to South Korea ask for: Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa: EPS-TOPIK (25 listening and 25 reading questions, 70 minutes): Above 80 out of 200, then passed in order of score up to the quota.

**Which visa do you need to work in South Korea?**

The legal routes to South Korea use these visas or permits: Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa: 비전문직 취업 (E-9), Non-Professional Employment. Apply only through the destination government's official website or its mission.

**What is the minimum wage for working in South Korea?**

The official pay floor for the Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa route in South Korea is KRW 10,320 per hour, in force from 1 January 2026 (Minimum Wage Commission, Republic of Korea (최저임금위원회)). This is the legal minimum in South Korea, not an offered wage.

## Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published 7 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: 8 October 2026.

## Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

1. [Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed 7 October 2026
2. [Ujian Bahasa Korea EPS-TOPIK (EPS, halaman bahasa Indonesia)](https://www.eps.go.kr/eo/EmplyPrsykTst.eo?pgID=P_000000035&menuID=10003&langCD=in) Ministry of Employment and Labor, Republic of Korea (EPS) · accessed 7 October 2026
3. [Employment Permit System: beranda bahasa Indonesia](https://www.eps.go.kr/eo/langMain.eo?langCD=in) Ministry of Employment and Labor, Republic of Korea (EPS) · accessed 7 October 2026
4. [Korea Visa Portal: Non-Professional (E-9) visa types](https://www.visa.go.kr/openPage.do?MENU_ID=10102&LANG_TYPE=EN) Ministry of Justice, Republic of Korea (Korea Visa Portal) · accessed 7 October 2026
5. [G to G Korea Selatan: Pengumuman (KP2MI)](https://kp2mi.go.id/gtog-korea/pengumuman) Kementerian Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (KP2MI) · accessed 7 October 2026
6. [최저임금위원회: 2026년 적용 최저임금](https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/main.do) Minimum Wage Commission, Republic of Korea (최저임금위원회) · accessed 7 October 2026
7. [2027년 적용 최저임금 고시 (고용노동부 고시 제2026-60호)](https://www.minimumwage.go.kr/customer/notice/view.do?bultnId=4774) Ministry of Employment and Labor, Republic of Korea (고용노동부) · 고용노동부 고시 제2026-60호 · accessed 7 October 2026
8. [SISKOP2MI: Daftar Lowongan](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/lowongan/list) KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI) · accessed 7 October 2026

**How to cite**

KarirAman (2026). Working in South Korea through legal routes. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/

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## Related guides

- [**Employment Permit System (EPS) G to G, E-9 visa**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/south-korea/eps-e9-employment-permit/)
- [**How to check a licensed overseas recruitment agency (P3MI) on SISKOP2MI**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/check-a-licensed-agency/)
- [**Placement fees for Indonesian migrant workers: who pays and what is lawful?**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/placement-costs/)
- [**Working in Cambodia, Myanmar or Thailand: why Indonesia has no legal placement there**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/no-placement-countries/)
- [**Human trafficking (TPPO) through job offers**](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/human-trafficking/)
- [**Job checker: is this job offer a scam?**](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/)
- [**Minimum Wage Abroad for Indonesian Workers, by Country**](https://kariraman.com/en/salary/abroad/)

- [Panduan Warga passport guide](https://panduanwarga.org/en/guides/indonesian-passport-m-paspor/)
- [Panduan Warga guide to visas abroad for Indonesians](https://panduanwarga.org/en/guides/visas-abroad-for-indonesians/)

CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.

**Change log**

- 8 October 2026 : This page is now the country overview: routes, the minimum wage and help channels. EPS requirements, costs and steps are on the route page.