Wage, safety violations against migrant workers uncovered in South Jeolla Province

An oyster farm in South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of South Jeolla Provincial Government

A Filipino seasonal worker was paid just 235,000 won ($155) after 18 days of 12-hour shifts at an oyster farm in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, in a case raising concerns of “modern-day slavery.”

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Wednesday that 26 foreign workers at two oyster farms were collectively owed 31.7 million won ($20,922) in unpaid wages. Two illegal brokers were also found to have siphoned off about 7 million won ($4,636) from workers.

The findings follow a special labor inspection launched after the South Jeolla Migrant Workers' Rights Network alleged wage exploitation and forced labor at these two sites.

According to the group, a 28-year-old Filipino woman entered Korea in November on an E-8 seasonal work visa. Although her contract guaranteed 2.09 million won ($1,379) a month, she was instead paid by output, earning 3,000 won ($1.98) per kilogram of oysters. She was also sent to work at a citron farm on days off, despite this not being part of her contract. The employer allegedly threatened to send her back to the Philippines if she did not meet production targets.

Working from 3 a.m. for more than 12 hours a day, she received about 235,000 won ($155) in her first month (18 days), after 310,000 won ($205) was deducted for lodging and meals.

Authorities said the two brokers, who had no legal authority to manage workers, monitored daily output and kept watch to prevent workers from leaving.

The migrant workers' rights group filed a complaint with the Yeosu branch of the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office against two employers and brokers on charges including human trafficking and minimum wage violations. Upon receiving the case, the labor ministry launched an investigation alongside a workplace inspection.

Multiple victims found

The inspection found more victims under similar wage violations. A total of 31.7 million won ($20,922) in unpaid wages was confirmed for 26 foreign seasonal workers. This included unpaid overtime of 16.5 million won ($10,934) and night work allowances of 11 million won ($7,289), as well as 4.2 million won ($2,783) in wages that fell below the legal minimum.

The ministry determined that the workers were paid through brokers, in violation of the “direct payment” principle. The two brokers were found to have deducted a fixed monthly amount — under the pretext of lodging and other costs — and to have sent workers to jobs not covered by their contracts, siphoning off a total of 7 million won ($4,636). One broker told investigators he took 200,000 won ($133) per worker, while the other denied the allegations.

The farms were also found to have violated multiple labor and safety regulations, including failing to provide or specify working conditions and not installing safety railings. Authorities have booked the employers and brokers and are continuing their investigation. Administrative fines totaling 6.3 million won ($4,172) were imposed for failing to keep wage ledgers and issue pay statements.

Separately, the ministry said it conducted preemptive inspections of five farms and fisheries in the Goheung area employing foreign seasonal workers, and found labor law violations at all five sites. Wage arrears totaling 23.2 million won ($15,374), including unpaid allowances and minimum wage violations, were also uncovered. One workplace was found to have paid wages through a broker.

The government said it will operate a special reporting period through the end of May, citing concerns that more hidden cases of migrant worker abuse may exist. Recent incidents include a case in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, in which a plating company owner injured a foreign worker by firing an air gun.

President Lee Jae Myung attends a townhall meeting to collect opinions on his policies from citizens in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province at the National Asian Culture Center in Gwangju, June 25, 2025. Courtesy of Presidential Office

President Lee Jae Myung has said violence and discrimination against migrant workers are “serious crimes that cannot be tolerated,” and ordered a firm response.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.