Yeoncheon-gun Allocates 384 Foreign Seasonal Workers for 2025

Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, announced on the 7th that it has been allocated 384 foreign seasonal workers as a result of the 2025 Foreign Seasonal Worker Allocation Review Committee by the Ministry of Justice. This is the fourth largest number in Gyeonggi Province. The foreign seasonal worker program is a system that allows foreigners to be legally employed in the agricultural sector for up to eight months to address the shortage of rural labor.

Yeoncheon-gun was allocated 384 foreign seasonal workers according to the results of the 2025 Foreign Seasonal Worker Allocation Review Committee by the Ministry of Justice. The photo shows foreigners preparing vegetables last year. Provided by Yeoncheon-gun

Following a two-week publicity period in October last year, a demand survey was conducted, and a total of 103 farms applied for 384 foreign seasonal workers. After establishing an operational plan for foreign seasonal workers and applying for recruitment to the Ministry of Justice, all applicants were allocated. Compared to the 290 workers allocated last year, the increase of 94 workers is expected to relieve the labor shortage faced by farms struggling with rural manpower shortages.

Meanwhile, the public-type seasonal worker program introduced for the first time last year by Jeongok Nonghyup showed an operating rate of over 95%, receiving great response from farms. This year, the program will operate 30 workers, an increase of 10, to evenly benefit small farms, large farms, and farmers with short-term needs.

Kim Deok-hyun, the mayor of Yeoncheon-gun, stated, “On the 31st of last month, 102 farm owners gathered to complete the signing of labor contracts. In addition, we are expanding exchanges with local governments to prepare for the rapidly increasing demand from farms every year. By strengthening the qualification screening of workers and placing high-quality workers in farms, we will contribute to stable agricultural management and increased farm income for farmers.”