Classified as a Forced Labor Good, Import Completely Banned
Taepyeong Salt Farm Subject to Withhold Release Order Due to Evidence of Labor Exploitation of Disabled Workers
Largest Salt Farm in Korea, Controversy Reignited After Whistleblower Exposed Abuses in 2021
Solar salt from Taepyeong Salt Farm in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, has been banned from import into the United States due to forced labor issues involving disabled workers. This marks the first case where a Korean product has been classified as a 'forced labor good' and blocked from customs clearance abroad.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a Withhold Release Order on the solar salt produced at Taepyeong Salt Farm on the 3rd (local time), determining that forced labor had been used and completely banning the import of the product. According to the CBP investigation, evidence of forced labor was found at Taepyeong Salt Farm, including restrictions on the movement of disabled workers, confiscation of identification cards, physical abuse, and excessive overtime.
Established in 1953, Taepyeong Salt Farm is the largest single salt farm in South Korea, producing about 6% of the country's solar salt. It also supplies well-known food companies. However, labor exploitation issues targeting disabled workers have repeatedly occurred. After a whistleblower among disabled workers came forward in 2021, the issue gained renewed attention. Domestic human rights organizations reported the matter to U.S. authorities, and approximately two years and five months later, this Withhold Release Order was issued.
Among OECD countries, the United States has only suspended imports of products due to forced labor issues from South Korea since Japan in 1994. Meanwhile, international regulations are tightening, with the European Union (EU) and other international communities recently passing laws banning the distribution of forced labor goods.
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