Ilocos Norte Korean school now accepts enrollees

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—A Korean school is partnering with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte to train Ilocanos in speaking the Korean language.

Anne Marie Lizette B. Atuan, manager of the Public Employment Service Office under the provincial government announced that enrollment is now on-going for the short-term training course which could last for more or less 13 days.

For the benefit of interested applicants who want to work in South Korea, the KRT International Training Center Inc. is reaching out to all Ilocanos in the province to provide Korean language training to them without going out of their comfort zone.

For Ms. Atuan, she said, “This is a good opportunity to all interested individuals who wish to learn Korean language.”

In May, the KRT Training Center initially conducted a career orientation at the Capitol attended by at least 75 participants.

Last year, the government of South Korea decided to accept 56,000 foreign workers under the Employment Permit System in 2019 to relieve a labor shortage in the country.

Under the plan, Korea will accept 43,000 newcomers and 13,000 returnees—2,000 fewer newcomers than in 2018 and 2,000 more returnees.

Under the EPS, a foreign worker can work in Korea for up to four years and 10 months on an E-9 visa, but cannot leave and re-enter the country on the same visa during that time.

After four years and 10 months, E-9 holders who meet certain conditions are eligible to leave and re-enter the country to return to their previous employers.

With this, the Ilocos Norte government hopes to help send some of these factory workers by partnering with a Korean school.

Since 2004, Korea has accepted low-skilled migrant workers from 16 countries via the EPS in response to labor shortages at the country’s farms, fisheries, and small and medium-sized companies.