South Korea will bring in more than 22,000 additional seasonal migrant workers in the second half of 2025 to address labor shortages in farming and fishing.
This was confirmed by the country’s justice ministry after a joint meeting with the ministries of agriculture and fisheries.
A total of 22,731 seasonal workers will be distributed to 100 local governments nationwide. These workers are expected to help fill long-standing labor gaps in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
This brings the total number of seasonal migrant workers approved for the year to 95,700, which is a 41% increase from the 67,778 deployed last year. The rise is aimed at supporting South Korea’s food production, especially during planting and harvest seasons.
Seasonal workers are allowed to stay in the country for short periods to perform temporary jobs. These jobs are usually done during peak seasons when there are not enough local workers available.
The agriculture ministry also announced that starting later this year, local governments will be allowed to operate public seasonal worker programs using local funds. This will still require prior approval from the national government.
South Korea continues to adjust its labor policies to address population decline and labor shortages in rural areas, especially in farming and fishing communities.
