To address chronic labor shortages in rural areas, Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) has announced a comprehensive plan to expand the public sector’s share of agricultural employment to 60% by 2030. This is the first statutory plan since the enactment of the Special Act on Agricultural and Fishery Employment Support, aiming to move beyond short-term solutions and establish a stable, public-centered workforce supply system. The plan also emphasizes the protection of worker safety and human rights, with a significant expansion of foreign seasonal labor and public seasonal labor programs. These measures are designed to ensure timely workforce deployment during peak farming seasons and improve working conditions in the agricultural sector.
In the first half of 2026, the allocation of foreign seasonal workers will reach a record 92,104, up by 18,219 from 73,885 in November of the previous year. The number of public seasonal labor sites will increase from 90 (2,786 workers) to 130 (4,729 workers), with a target of 200 sites and over 6,000 workers by 2030. Key goals include achieving 100% safety insurance coverage for seasonal workers and mandating wage default guarantee insurance for farms employing them. The plan also seeks to increase the share of domestic workers to over 40%, with expanded support for transportation and accommodation, and tailored job information for various workforce segments. The integration of local labor pools across 180 rural job centers will further enhance operational efficiency.
To ensure a safe and rights-respecting work environment, the government will introduce a mobile-based agricultural safety checklist, VR-based safety training, and promote the use of safety labor contracts. From this year, farms hiring seasonal workers must enroll in agricultural safety insurance, and wage guarantee insurance will be mandatory to prevent wage theft and human rights violations. The government will also improve the living conditions of foreign workers by remodeling agricultural cooperative facilities, building public housing, and operating a ‘lodging bank’ platform. Human rights inspections and joint audits will be conducted twice a year, with stricter penalties for farms found to violate workers’ rights.
The roles of agricultural employment support institutions will be restructured, with regional job centers focusing on workforce allocation and specialized agencies enhancing on-site counseling and training programs. Minister Song Mi-ryeong emphasized the need for a stable, public-led workforce supply system and stronger institutional protection for workers’ safety and rights. This plan marks a significant turning point for the sustainability of Korea’s agricultural sector and the improvement of rural labor conditions. Continued collaboration between the government and related organizations is expected to play a key role in resolving rural labor issues.
This agricultural workforce innovation plan is notable for its dual focus on expanding labor supply and institutionalizing worker safety and rights. The integration of foreign seasonal labor, domestic workforce pools, and advanced training systems signals a shift towards digital transformation and sustainable growth in agriculture. If data-driven policies and field-oriented support systems are further strengthened, this initiative could significantly boost agricultural productivity and revitalize rural communities.