"South Korea has broadened the scope of available jobs. Previously limited to Korean restaurants, the opportunities are now open to all types of restaurants," said the ministry’s Director General of Placement, Ahnas, in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
He explained that the number of eligible regions has doubled from 100 to 200. Job options are no longer restricted to kitchen assistants but also include servers and waitresses.
According to Ahnas, the South Korean government introduced this new policy to absorb more Indonesian workers, given the very low placement numbers in Service Sector 2 up to August 2025.
"From 2024 to August 2025, only 30 Indonesian migrant workers were dispatched under this sector, while just 52 standard employment contracts (SLCs) were issued," he said.
He noted that from the 2024 quota of 4,782 workers, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) had received 4,537 applicants, all of whom were on the waiting list as of August 29, 2025.
The slow absorption of Indonesian workers, he added, is also experienced by other countries such as Thailand. However, South Korea has provided Indonesia with a relatively large quota.
"In 2025, South Korea’s overall demand for foreign workers has declined to 130,000 across 17 countries. Even so, Indonesia still received a significant quota of 8,200," Ahnas explained.
He expressed hope that the new policy, in coordination with KP2MI, would continue to ease placement issues in the service sector.
Ahnas also urged prospective Indonesian migrant workers waiting for their SLCs not to re-register, even if they have been on the roster for more than a year.
"We encourage them to keep preparing themselves, maintain mental readiness, and stay connected with official KP2MI channels for accurate information," he said.
He emphasized that KP2MI remains committed to finding the best solutions to ensure optimal placement of Indonesian migrant workers in South Korea.
"We recognize the challenges we are facing together, and we are committed to fighting for the hopes and aspirations of our migrant workers," Ahnas said.
"We will continue striving for the best solutions so they can pursue their goals and contribute globally," he added.
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Translator: Arie Novarina
Editor: Primayanti
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