Korea inspects coastal farms to protect migrant fishing workers

Korea has launched a comprehensive three-week inspection campaign targeting coastal fishing households that employ foreign seasonal workers, seeking to root out labor abuses and improve living standards in the country’s aging maritime sector. The joint crackdown, led by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, began Monday and will cover roughly 160 fishing households across the nation through Nov. 27. The initiative arrives amid growing scrutiny over the treatment of foreign laborers brought in to relieve severe workforce shortages in rural coastal communities. Officials said joint inspection teams — comprising government personnel, local authorities and civil rights groups — will directly visit five municipal regions with large seasonal worker allocations or lingering allegations of human rights violations. Local governments will independently audit an additional 22 municipalities. Inspectors are focusing on compliance with standard labor contracts, the provision of adequate heating and housing ahead of the winter season, mandatory insurance coverage, an