Gokseong County Strengthens Public Seasonal Worker Cooperation with Laos

90 Seasonal Workers to Be Dispatched in 2026
Stable Rural Workforce Expected

Gokseong County in South Jeolla Province announced on December 29 that, in order to expand the public foreign seasonal worker program in 2026, a delegation visited the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Veterans in Laos and local governments from December 21 to 25 for a five-day, three-night business trip to discuss cooperation.

The delegation was led by the Deputy Governor of Gokseong County and included four officials from the Agricultural Policy Division. They met with representatives from the Department of Employment at the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Veterans in Laos, as well as officials from Muang Thaphabat District, Thoulakhom District, and Keo-Oudom District. They also held discussions with the training institution responsible for dispatching seasonal workers, focusing on ways to expand the dispatch of seasonal workers in 2026.

Officials from Gokseong County visiting the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Veterans in Laos to facilitate the smooth implementation of the Public Seasonal Worker Program. Provided by Gokseong County

The Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Veterans in Laos highly praised the stable and smooth operation of the seasonal worker cooperation with Gokseong County over the past two years. The ministry noted that, thanks to Gokseong County’s systematic administration-centered management, both workers and employers have faithfully fulfilled their contracts, resulting in almost no cases of disputes.

In particular, the ministry expressed trust and gratitude for the high satisfaction among Gokseong County’s farmers, noting that there have been many cases where they hope to rehire workers.

Both sides agreed to pursue an expansion of the number of seasonal workers to a total of 90 in 2026. They also agreed to continue discussions on extending the working period from the current five months to eight months to increase workers’ income and stabilize the labor supply for farms.

In consultations with the local governments of Muang Thaphabat, Thoulakhom, and Keo-Oudom Districts, the parties shared results of worker dispatch and the status of workers hoping to re-enter Korea. They also discussed selecting outstanding workers through local interviews in January 2026, operating age criteria flexibly, and measures to prevent workers from absconding. In the case of workers from Thoulakhom District, the satisfaction rate with working in Gokseong County was found to be very high, with more than 90% expressing a desire to return.

Additionally, Gokseong County proposed officially inviting Laotian seasonal workers to the Gokseong World Rose Festival in 2026 to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding. The Laotian side expressed gratitude and a positive intention to participate.

An official from the county stated, "Through this visit, we once again confirmed the stability and achievements of Gokseong County’s public seasonal worker program from both the central and local governments of Laos. In 2026, we will strive to achieve both goals of alleviating rural labor shortages and improving worker welfare through more systematic selection and management."