Foreign workers work in a grape farm in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province on July 13. (Yonhap) South Korea confirmed Friday that Kazakhstan would be given a quota for E-9 visas, allowing work mostly in manual labor sectors such as farming and manufacturing, starting in 2028.The announcement was made at a pangovernmental meeting in Seoul presided over by Lim Ki-keun, Minister for the Office for Government Policy Coordination.This means Kazakhstan nationals would be eligible to apply for E-9 visas, going on to work in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, livestock, fisheries as well as hospitality services and cleaning.E-9 visa holders are granted a permit to stay in South Korea for at least three years, and may apply for an extension of up to 22 months. This year, the total quota for E-9 visas is 80,000, down from 165,000 in 2024 and 130,000 in 2025.Kazakhstan is the 18th partner country for E-9 visa, following Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.The government said in a press release it affirmed Kazakhstan's readiness to send workers to South Korea, citing Kazakhstan's state oversight on workers abroad, worker training system, medical checkup infrastructure, as well as the country's willingness to have its E-9 holders abide by visa rules.Friday's announcement is expected to "contribute to a swift and efficient response to the deepening labor shortage in industrial sites," Lim said in the release, while urging swift follow-up measures to ensure a soft landing for Kazakhstani workers at South Korean workplaces