Cheongsong County Completes Entry of 247 Foreign Seasonal Workers from Laos and the Philippines in First Half of This Year

Cheongsong County in North Gyeongsang Province announced that 78 foreign seasonal workers from the Philippines entered the country through Incheon International Airport on May 2, 2025.

Cheongsong County, which has completed the entry of 247 foreign seasonal workers from Laos and the Philippines in the first half of 2025. Photo by Cheongsong County

Cheongsong County has contributed to alleviating the labor shortage in rural areas by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Philippines in 2022, and last year, by entering into an MOU with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos to introduce foreign seasonal workers.

Although some farms gave up participating in the seasonal worker program due to the aftermath of large-scale wildfires, 105 workers from Laos have been assigned to farms, and a total of 142 workers from the Philippines have been placed, with 64 arriving in the first group on April 10 and 78 in this second group.

The newly arrived workers received training on compliance requirements, drug and crime prevention at the large conference room of the Cheongsong County Agricultural Technology Center. They also underwent physical examinations, drug tests, and opened personal bank accounts. Afterward, they will be assigned to farms where they will work for five to eight months, participating in agricultural activities.

Currently, Cheongsong County has signed MOUs with five cities in three countries: the Philippines, Laos, and Vietnam. Following the arrival of workers from Laos and the Philippines, workers from Vietnam are also scheduled to enter the country.

A total of 255 foreign seasonal workers will be assigned to 66 farms, which is expected to help address the labor shortage during the peak farming season. Workers for the second half of the year will be selected after farm applications and the Ministry of Justice's allocation review, and are scheduled to arrive in July.

County Governor Yoon Kyunghee stated, "We plan to actively support the seasonal workers so that they can adapt quickly and work without inconvenience," adding, "We will continue to implement various policies to resolve the rural labor shortage and consistently secure excellent workers."