KUALA LUMPUR - Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang has held several meetings in Seoul with senior South Korean officials to boost cooperation in labour mobility, employment and migration governance.

According to a report by VietnamPlus, the discussions involved the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Ministry of Employment and Labour (MOEL), the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) and the Ministry of Justice.

Thang and MOEL Vice Minister Son Pil Hun reportedly welcomed progress under the Employment Permit System (EPS), noting that Vietnam currently sends the highest number of workers to South Korea under the scheme.

Vietnam has reduced the rate of irregular workers to around 19%, surpassing the set target.

Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination in carrying out the existing memorandum of understanding, including increasing recruitment quotas in line with South Korean market needs and Vietnamese workers’ aspirations.

They also discussed expanding Korean-language testing using computers and tablets to ease administrative processes.

The two countries are considering broadening EPS job categories to cover core industrial sectors such as casting, plastic moulding, surface treatment and heat processing.

Vietnam and South Korea will also enhance support measures for worker integration and reintegration, alongside strengthening workplace monitoring to ensure welfare protections.

Thang also met HRD Korea President Lee Woo Young and witnessed the signing of a service contract between HRD Korea and Vietnam’s Centre of Overseas Labour (COLAB).

The agreement aims to improve transparency, efficiency and sustainability in managing the EPS scheme.

The Vietnamese delegation later held talks with officials from the South Korean Ministry of Justice on administrative reform, labour mobility and foreign worker governance.

Both sides agreed to expand seasonal worker programmes through deeper cooperation at the local government level.

They also discussed reducing overstays while supporting voluntary return and future re-entry where eligible.

In addition, the two countries are exploring a pilot initiative for nursing workers based on joint mechanisms under national laws.

The engagements were seen as strengthening cooperation under the Vietnam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.