EPS-TOPIK beginner guide

EPS-TOPIK is the Korean language test used in Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS), a system that lets employers in Korea hire workers from a number of partner countries. It checks basic Korean for daily life and work, and it has reading and listening sections. If you are a beginner, start with Hangul, then learn core workplace vocabulary and simple sentence patterns, and practise a little reading and listening every day. This guide explains each step and shows you where to find the official rules for your country.

This website is an independent study site. It is not connected to HRD Korea or any government agency, and it does not handle registration or results.

What EPS-TOPIK checks

EPS-TOPIK focuses on practical Korean. The language is simple, but it is the Korean people really use at work and in daily life. Beginner practice usually covers topics like these:

• signs and notices, such as 출입 금지 (no entry) or 금연 (no smoking)
• numbers, prices, dates and times
• tools, machines and safety equipment
• short instructions from a manager or co-worker
• everyday situations such as shopping, transport, health and days off

In reading practice, you look at short texts, signs or pictures and choose the right answer. In listening practice, you hear short Korean audio and choose the right answer. You do not need advanced grammar to start. You do need a strong base: reading Hangul quickly, knowing common words, and understanding short polite sentences.

What to check in the official notice

Some details change from year to year and from country to country. Do not rely on friends, posters or social media for them. Check the official notice for your country for:

• who can apply and which documents are needed
• registration dates and how to register
• the test fee
• the test format, including the number of questions and the time allowed
• how results are announced and how they are used

Our guide on how to read an official EPS exam notice explains each part. Official information is published on the EPS official portal.

If you are not sure which Korean test you need, read about the difference between EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK.

What to study first

Step 1: Learn to read Hangul

Hangul is the Korean alphabet. With daily practice, many learners can read it slowly within one or two weeks. Do not depend on romanisation for long. Signs, notices and answer options are written in Hangul, so you need to read them directly.

Try reading these words aloud:

Notice that ㅇ is silent at the start of a syllable (안 = an) but sounds like "ng" at the end (상 = sang).

Step 2: Build core vocabulary

Start with words you will meet again and again: numbers, time, days of the week, places at work, tools, safety words and common verbs. Learn words in small groups, for example ten safety words in one day, and say each one in a short sentence. The vocabulary topic page collects our word lessons.

Step 3: Learn a few sentence patterns

A small number of polite patterns appear very often in workplace Korean:

Learn one pattern at a time. Then make three sentences of your own with words you already know.

Step 4: Listen every day

Listening is often harder than reading for beginners, because Korean sounds join together in speech. Listen to short Korean audio every day, even for 15 minutes. Focus on numbers and times first. They appear in many practice questions, and it is easy to check whether you heard them correctly.

How to use practice tests

Practice tests show you what you know and what you need to fix. Use them in this order:

1. Learning mode first. Take your time, replay the audio and read the explanations.
2. Timed mode later. When you feel ready, practise with a visible timer.
3. Review every test. Look at each wrong answer and find out why it happened. Our guide on how to review a mock test effectively gives a step-by-step method.

The practice sets on this site are short and original. They are not copies of official papers, and they are not official full-length exams. The UBT practice page explains how the practice screen works.

A simple weekly routine

If you prefer a day-by-day plan, follow our 30 day EPS-TOPIK study plan.

Common beginner mistakes

• Staying with romanisation. It slows you down. Switch to Hangul as early as you can.
• Memorising answers instead of language. If you only remember that "question 5 is b", you have learned nothing new. Learn the words and the reason.
• Skipping listening. Many learners read well but freeze when they hear Korean. Practise both skills from the start.
• Trusting unofficial dates or rules. Always confirm with the official notice for your country.
• Studying in long, rare sessions. One hour every day usually works better than seven hours once a week.

Next step

Visit the EPS-TOPIK hub for all our beginner guides. Then try the EPS mixed practice set in learning mode. It mixes reading and listening questions in a UBT-style interface, so it is a good way to see where you are now.