By Jonathan M. Hicap
Korea Times Correspondent
MANILA ― The Philippine government warned applicants for the Korean Language Test (KLT) that they will be disqualified from taking the exam if they are found to have existing immigration violations in South Korea.
Filipino workers who want to work in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are required to pass the language test.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Philippine government agency that implements the EPS, said it has tightened its screening of applicants for the KLT to ensure that only those qualified and eligible to enter South Korea will be allowed to take the test.
The POEA and the Korean Embassy in the Philippines are working together to screen applicants.
According to the POEA, Filipino applicants who have active registrations for the test will be pre-screened for any record of immigration violations in Korea.
It advised applicants to provide accurate information about their previous travels to Korea.
Those who lie that they have never been to Korea in order to be eligible will be disqualified and will not be entitled to an entry visa despite passing the preliminary stages of the application process, the POEA said.
Filipinos who violated Korean immigration laws in the past should not apply so that they can be spared from spending money and effort when the applicants will only be disqualified later.