Gangwon-do Deploys Record High 9,168 Foreign Seasonal Workers This Year

About 1,700 More Workers Than Last Year... Full-Scale Entry and Deployment Begins in March
Stable and Efficient Labor Supply Expected Through Customized 'Farm Type' and 'Public Type' Operations

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced on the 26th that it will actively facilitate the entry of foreign seasonal workers starting in March to address the chronic labor shortage in rural areas ahead of the busy farming season.

A view of the Gangwon Special Provincial Government Building. Photo by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Office

This year, 9,168 foreign seasonal workers have been allocated based on MOUs signed with four countries: the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This represents an increase of 1,733 workers (19%) compared to last year, marking the largest scale ever. These workers will be assigned to individual farms and regional agricultural cooperatives (public seasonal labor centers) across 16 cities and counties in the province, contributing to the alleviation of rural labor shortages.

Foreign seasonal workers are operated under two categories: ‘Farm Type’ and ‘Public Type.’ The ‘Farm Type’ (8,763 workers) involves individual farms directly contracting with workers, while the ‘Public Type’ (405 workers) involves regional agricultural cooperatives contracting with workers and supplying labor to farms in need. Through this customized labor supply system, the range of choices for each farm will be expanded, enabling more stable and efficient labor management.

Gangwon Province is investing a total of 4.1 billion KRW to implement five projects aimed at facilitating the smooth settlement of foreign seasonal workers and improving their working conditions. Key projects include the establishment of public seasonal labor centers, support for foreign seasonal workers’ welfare (medical mutual aid, employment insurance, industrial accident insurance, etc.), and accommodation support to improve living conditions. Additionally, the province plans to focus on stabilizing workers’ lives and resolving labor shortages by supporting the invitation of family members or relatives of marriage immigrants to participate in the workforce.

Seok Seong-gyun, Director of the Gangwon Provincial Agricultural Policy Bureau, stated, “We expect that the introduction of foreign seasonal workers will solve the labor shortage during the busy farming season and establish a stable agricultural production base.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen cooperation with related organizations to improve the introduction procedures and do our best to create an environment that satisfies both farms and workers.”