Rupandehi, November 16:

Newly-appointed Nepali ambassador to South Korea Kamal Koirala today said the doors for Nepali workers wishing to work in South Korea will be reopened soon and that 5,000 workers will be allowed to go there within this year.

Speaking at a function organised in his honour by the Nepal Korea Development Council here today, Koirala said the number of those wishing to go to South Korea is very large; at least 17 times more than the jobs offered to Nepalis.

“Over 85,000 have applied for jobs in Korea and are learning Korean language, even though the number of vacancies is only 5,000,” he added. He said another batch of 5,000 workers will be sent to Korea next year.

Pointing out that 36 per cent of South Koreans are Buddhists, Koirala said he will work to attract South Korean tourists in larger numbers to Lord Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini.

“The government has declared that the ambassador who ropes in the largest number of tourists from his port-of-call will be awarded, and I hope to win the award,” he chuckled.

Speaking on the occasion, member-secretary of the Lumbini Development Trust Ramlal Shrestha said tourist inflow would boost the country’s economy.

Chairman of the Butwal Chambers of Commerce and Industries Navraj Shrestha and chairman of the Rupandehi Chambers of Commerce and Industries Ejaz Alam urged ambassador Koirala to find out an opportunities for the export of domestic products of Nepal to South Korea.