The Republic of Korea will soon resume receiving Vietnamese guest workers following the signing of a special memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Seoul on December 31. Visiting Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen and her host Minister of Employment and Labour Phang Ha Nam signed the document, marking the resumption of the Korea Employment Permit System (EPS) for Vietnam. The one-year MoU, effective as of December 31, 2013, will benefit more than 14,000 Vietnamese nationals who either registered for or passed Korean language tests in 2011 and 2012. After a year both sides will review the implementation of the special MoU and consider extending the programme. The signing of this special MoU demonstrates both countries’ efforts in taking bold measures to reduce the number of Vietnamese nationals residing illegally in the RoK. The RoK suspended its EPS for Vietnam in August 2012, finding that many Vietnamese guest workers had broken off contract and resided illegally in the country. The RoK Ministry of Employment and Labour reports the number of Vietnamese guest workers illegally residing in the country fell considerably from 49.9% in July 2013 to 38.2% in October 2013. Vietnam on December 30 inaugurated a new office in Seoul in an attempt to better manage Vietnamese guest workers under the Korea Employment Permit System. VOV