Korea’s seasonal worker program faces scrutiny amid US forced labor sanctions

A worker is seen at Taepyung Salt Farm in Sinan, South Jeolla Province, April 7, five days after the United States imposed an import ban on Korea’s largest sea salt producer over forced labor allegations. Yonhap

Amid the government's push to attract more foreign labor to offset population aging, its seasonal workforce program is facing growing scrutiny, especially after the U.S. government banned imports of salt from Korea's largest sea salt farm over forced labor allegations.

Labor exploitation, often driven by brokers who extort fees disguised as commissions, has been exacerbated by systemic flaws in the program's management, experts say.

Concerns are mounting that other Korean exports — particularly agricultural and marine products — could face similar import bans, following confirmation that the U.S. State Department conducted an investigation into Korea's human trafficking cases including the seasonal worker program earlier this year.

Initially launched as a pilot program from 2015 to 2016 and implemented in full in 2017, the seasonal worker program was designed to address chronic labor shortages in rural areas, especially at harvest seasons. In 2022, the government expanded the initiative, easing visa rules to allow more short-term foreign labor.

However, cases and allegations of human trafficking and labor exploitation continue to rise under the program.

One recent case, which is currently under investigation by the Anseong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, shows an example of abuse.

Two seasonal workers from the Philippines, who requested anonymity, said that while they received wages during their employment in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province, in 2023, a broker secretly siphoned off a total of 2.75 million won ($1,958) from their pay without their knowledge.

The broker reportedly set up an electronic transfer system tied to the workers' Korean bank accounts when they opened them.

After the two workers fled their workplace to seek legal help, the broker retaliated by posting their photos online without consent and spreading false claims that they had used illegal drugs.

One of the workers also said the broker threatened his sister who had previously worked as a seasonal laborer here. She has been attempting to return to Korea under the same program since October last year, but the broker has allegedly used her as leverage to pressure the worker by blocking her departure from the Philippines.

"It's highly suspicious that NongHyup Bank, commonly used by seasonal foreign workers to open wage accounts, and local governments may be turning a blind eye to these brokers’ actions," said Choi Jeong-gyu, an attorney at Wongok Law Firm representing the two workers.

"Local governments rely heavily on brokers to recruit foreign labor, making it difficult to hold them accountable," he added.

Victims speak out about falling prey to a job scam involving Korea’s seasonal worker (E-8) visa in Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam, May 28, 2024. Korea Times file

While the Ministry of Justice handles the issuance of foreign worker visas, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is also involved in the program due to its ties to the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Recruitment and oversight responsibilities, however, have been largely delegated to local governments — resulting in significant gaps in coordination and accountability.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which is responsible for officially recognizing human trafficking cases, a total of 27 cases had been confirmed as of April.

The number has risen steadily in recent years — from three cases in 2023 to 12 in 2024, and 12 already reported in the first four months of 2025. The number of cases linked to the seasonal worker program was five in 2024 and nine so far this year, all of which involved labor exploitation.

Korea faces risk of US sanctions

Concerns are mounting that continued human trafficking and labor exploitation under the seasonal worker program could lead to broader economic repercussions, including potential U.S. import bans on more Korean agricultural and marine products — similar to the recent ban on salt.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began enforcing the salt import ban on April 2, following petitions submitted by Korean advocacy groups in 2022.

In addition, the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report team conducted interviews with individuals familiar with the issue during a visit to Korea in January this year.

The Korea Times reached out to Ko Gi-bok, head of the Yongin Migrant Shelter 1218ForAll, who confirmed his participation in the interview but declined to share details, citing confidentiality. The Korea Times also contacted the U.S. State Department to inquire about the purpose of the interviews, but no response was available at the time of reporting.

Choi noted that while the TIP Report team conducts annual assessments on human trafficking cases worldwide, the decision to conduct separate interviews this year may indicate a particular focus on the situation in Korea.

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent executive order to review forced labor in foreign seafood supply chains, Korea formed a joint task force comprising the ministries of fisheries, justice, labor, foreign affairs and trade.

However, critics argue the government's response came too late and failed to address the underlying systemic issues within the seasonal labor program.

"What is clear is that if Korea continues to operate the seasonal worker program as it does now, the U.S. could use the TIP Report as leverage to pressure Korea in pursuit of its own interests," Ko said. "Unless the Korean government and local authorities take this issue seriously, the CBP may impose additional sanctions."