The data was released by the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea and Korean relevant authorities. Accordingly, in the first 6 months of 2018, the number of unauthorized Vietnamese residents in Korea who volunteered to repatriate is 988, the number of people who were captured and expelled was 518.

The report also shows that the number of Vietnamese workers working in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) is 38,331; the number of near-shore fishing workers is 7,067 and qualified workers with the existing work visa (E-7) is 1,788.

Photo for illustration (source: VOV)

The Department of of Overseas Labor Management, under the Ministry of Labours, Invalid and Social Affairs (MoLiSA) reports, in 2018, Korean plans to give permission to 3,500 Vietnamese workers in the manufacturing sectors, excluding agriculture and aquaculture.

Following the MOU on sending and receiving Vietnamese labours to South Korea, according to the EPS, the Department of of Overseas Labor Management has coordinated with relevant agencies to take appropriate measures to reduce the number of illegal workers in Korea.

In more details, the Department has stepped up propaganda programme in both Vietnam and Korea to urge Vietnamese workers in Korea to voluntarily timely return home, support these workers when they come home, and strictly punish violators and strengthening the management of workers in the RoK./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )