Korean peninsula sees peace at the end of tunnel

SEOUL: Seoul is hopeful that the Korean peninsula is soon going to witness a peaceful unity as the clouds of doubts have started clearing between the two Koreas – North and South – in recent years.
In his address during the inauguration ceremony of the Global Journalist Conference (GJC) 2019, in Seoul on Monday, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Taeho briefed the journalists from around the world about the latest developments in an attempt to reach an agreement that would bring Seoul and Pyongyang closer.
"Inter-Korean relations continue to look hopeful this year," he said, adding that the two Koreas withdrew guard posts in the demilitarized zone and hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for an inter-Korean railway linkage. "The Korean Peninsula is gradually transforming itself from the world’s last Cold War frontier to a symbol of world peace."
Calling the media to play a role in building peace on the Korean Peninsula, he said a peaceful Korean Peninsula was closely linked to the security of East Asia. "North Korea's participation in economic affairs in the region will help stabilize it."
As relations between North and South Korea has been moving towards more peaceful future, the year 2019 is expected to see both the countries start some of he joint projects. Though, South Korean has been openly talking about the significance of peace on the peninsula, the North has not denied the joint future that looks more promising and prosperous.
The week-long conference – organised by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) – also helped the international journalists to better understand Korea’s policies aimed at peace building.
Some 70 journalists from 40 countries around the world – on the occasion – not only discussed on 'Role of journalists in seeking peace on the Korean Peninsula,' but also presented their country case study. Some 13 participants presented their country case study and talked about the challenges media today is facing, globally and locally. They also discussed on responsibility of media in promoting world peace and how their reports can make a difference in the world.
Apart from Seoul, the journalists will visit some six major South Korean cities including Suwon, Sejong, Jeollabuk-do, Gwangju, Daejeon, Cheonan and Incheon, before leaving for their home country on March 30. The journalists will also visit traditional Korean houses at a Hanok Village, the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon, the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, and the May 18th National Cemetery, commemorating the nation's democratization movement back in 1980.
After the inauguration ceremony, the Korea Tourism Organisation hosted a lunch for the journalists. President of the Korea Tourism Organisation Young Bae Ahn, on the occasion, informed the guests that South Korea witnessed a total inbound and outbound tourist volume of 44 million tourists. Highlighting the South Korea’s growing role in the global tourism industry, he informed that 15 million international visitors arrived in Korea while 28 million Korean tourists travelled overseas.

South Korea to allow family to visit Nepali workers, increase quota

South Korea is going to allow family members of Nepali migrant workers in South Korea to pay a visit at least once during their employment tenure, and increase the quota of Nepali migrant workers.
Responding to the labour minister Gokarna Bista, South Korean ambassador to Nepal Park Young-sik, said that Nepali migrant workers will soon be able to meet their family members in South Korea. "The South Korean government is making official arrangements for this purpose," he added.
Ambassador Youngsik – during the meeting with the labour minister Bista today at the ministry – said that some families have already visited South Korea to meet their keens.
Labour Ministry spokesperson Prakash Dahal informed that minister Bista had requested envoy Young-sik during their previous meeting to facilitate family members' visit at least once during the migrant worker’s contract period.
Though, South Korea is known for offering better facilities and remuneration among other foreign job destinations, the suicide rate of Nepali migrant workers has been increasing in South Korea in recent years. Family visits could give workers a psychological relief from anxiety, loneliness and dispel thoughts of committing suicide. The Nepali migrant workers have a-four-year-and-a-10-month contract period.
Bista also requested the ambassador to increase the jobs quota for Nepali migrant workers in South Korea. The South Korean government has fixed the maximum ceiling of 7,100 Nepali workers, who pass the qualifying test (EPS) and enter its job market in 2019 as potential candidates. Bista urged to hire Nepali workers in service sector too. Praising the performances and conduct of Nepali workers in South Korea, envoy Young-sik said he would do his best to increase the quota for Nepali workers and their placement in service sector, according to a press note issued by the ministry.
According to Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), some 54,363 Nepali migrant workers are in South Korea currently.

South Korea increases quota for Nepalis more than threefold

South Korea – the most lucrative destination of Nepali migrant workers – has increased quota for Nepali migrant workers for 2018 by more than three fold compared to this year.
Korea – which is taking 3,100 Nepali migrant workers through Employment Permit System (EPS) in 2017 – has decided to increase the quota to 10,200 for 2018.
According to EPS Center, the Korean Human Resource Department has informed that the Korean government will take 10,200 Nepali migrant workers in 2018. Among the 10,200 workers, Korea has been seeking 6,200 workers for the agriculture sector and 4,000 for production sector.
The Centre also informed that it is planning to open applications for Korean language test from March 22 to March 31 and conduct the exam by mid-June.
According to the Centre, the candidates can apply online from this year. Because of the online facility, the candidates do not have to stay in queue for hours to submit their application like earlier years.
South Korea has been taking Nepali migrant workers every year through EPS. Nepali youth have been taking Korean Language Test to get listed in the roaster, from where the Korean Human Resource Department selects them in various sectors.

Second batch of Nepalis leave for Korea

The second batch of 66 Nepali migrant workers will leave for much sought after South Korea to work under the Employment Permit System (EPS) system on Monday.
"Every week, a group will leave for South Korea," said Keshar Bahadur Baniya, director general at the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DoLEP). The majority of the workers are assigned to the manufacturing sector, according to the roster.Last Monday, the first batch of 55 migrant workers left for South Korea. Nepal Airlines Corporation took them to Bangkok and from Bangkok, Korean Air flew them to South Korea.
The department had called the airline companies for a bid asking which airlines could fly the selected ones at a cheaper rate to South Korea. Universal Tours and Travels, the GSA of Korean Air, bid the lowest.
After receiving HRD-Korea's final letter with the names of job aspirants, the department began flying them to Korea from last week. The name-list that HRD-Korea sent was according to the certificate of conformation of visa issuance (CCVI) list.
Earlier, job aspirants underwent a 15-day orientation after they sailed through the medical tests. As per EPS rules, the first step for employment in South Korea under EPS is the Korean Language Test (KLT). Candidates passing the language test are then required to undergo a stringent medical test.

140 Nepalis selected for Korea

South Korea has selected first batch of Nepalis. Among the 6,767 candidates, who have filled out the job application form to go to Republic of Korea for employment purpose under employment permit system (EPS), the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DoLEP) has today received 140 names.
Out of the total 31,175 who have appeared in the Korean Language Test (KLT), a first step inthe process of getting jobs in South Korea under EPS, only 6767 have passed the test.
Out of the total 6,767-passed candidates, 140 names have been selected from the merit list. “We are in a process of receiving more names,” said Keshar Bahadur Baniya, director general (DG) at the DoLEP. “Now they will undergo training for a maximum of 15 days,” he said, adding that immediately after they get certificate of conformation of visa issuance (CCVI), the governmentwill fix the airlines to fly them to Korea.
“Government will select the airlines that offers the low cost,” he added.
Around 5,500 will get a chance to go to South Korea, where they will be paid no less than $900 salary excluding lodging, fooding and medical expenses. A total cost for the whole process doesnot exceed $970 (around Rs 63,050) that includes $17 for the test that they had already paid and tickets.
The KLT-EPS exam was jointly conducted by EPS section of DoLEP and the Human Resource Department of Korea but conducted by the Tribhuvan University (TU).
The Korean HRD officials had taken the answer sheets back to Korea for final marking.According to the Korean government’s Foreign Workforce Plan, Korea plans to bring in 1,32,000 foreign workers — of which 60,000 will be ethnic Koreans living overseas and 72,000 foreigners — in 2008.
The total figure for 2008 is up by 23,000 from 1,09,000 of 2007. “But if 1,27,000 foreigners to be imported to replace those who will be deported due to the expiry of their sojourn period and illegal stay are excluded, there will be a net increase of just 5,000 workers,” states the plan.
At a meeting of the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee, chaired by the head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, on February 14, the Korean government had announced its 2008 Foreign Workforce Import Plan.
Destination Korea for jobs is considered to be among the most preferred for Nepali jobseekersbecause of better earnings and cheaper initial cost to get job under EPS.
Nepal and South Korea had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in July last year. The agreement has set proficiency of the Korean language as a major condition of eligibility for employment in South Korea.Nepal — after South Korea and Bahrain — is also looking forward to sign agreement with Japan.

KLT exams end on positive note

The second and last day of Korean Language Test (KLT), one of the key processes of getting job in South Korea under employment permit system (EPS), completed here peacefully on March 30.
"The exam was peaceful," said Keshar Bahadur Baniya, director general at the department of labour and employment promotion.
Out of around 31,000 aspirant jobseekers applied for the KLT, 18,000 appeared in the exam yesterday and the rest appeared today. The exam centres were fixed in the 18 centres in Kathmandu valley only.
It was jointly arranged by EPS section of DoLEP and the Human Resource Department of Korea but conducted by the Tribhuvan University (TU). The applicants appeared for the written as well as listening and reading test for EPS-KLT.
South Korea has emerged as the most preferred destination for Nepali jobseekers because of better earnings and cheaper initial cost to get job under EPS. Nepal and South Korea had signed a memorandum of understanding in July last year. The agreement has set proficiency of the Korean language as a major condition of eligibility for employment in South Korea.

Out of a total 31,900 aspirant jobseekers, who have applied for the Korean Language Test (KLT) — a first step in the process of getting jobs in South Korea under employment permit system (EPS) — 18,000 appeared in the exam in 18 different exam centre in the valley on March 29.
"18,000 job-aspirant appeared in the exam today, while 13,000 will appear tomorrow," said Keshar Bahadur Baniya, director general (DG) at the department of labour and employment promotion (DoLEP).
The exam is jointly arranged by EPS section of DoLEP and the Human Resource Department of Korea but conducted by the Tribhuvan University (TU). The applicants appeared for the written as well as listening and reading test for EPS-KLT.
EPS unit had set up office at the Dhasharath Stadium, Tripureswar to receive forms. The 31,900 candidates had filled up the forms for the test during the five-day long registration from March 15-19. The Korean HRD officials will take the answer sheets — after the exams tomorrow — back to Korea for final marking and the results will be announced later through public media.
Each candidate had deposited Nepali rupees equivalent to $17 (approximately Rs 1,100) for the test.
Under the exam, listening test and reading test carry 100 marks with each test to be concluded in 40 minutes and 50 minutes respectively.
South Korea has emerged as the most preferred destination for Nepali jobseekers because of better earnings and cheaper initial cost to get job under EPS. "It will cost only Rs 65,000," Baniya informed.
Nepal and South Korea had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in July last year. The agreement has set proficiency of the Korean language as a major condition of eligibility for employment in South Korea.