Record-high number of migrant workers to fill agriculture labor vacuum

Korea will invite a record-high 104,000 migrant workers to join the agricultural sector in the first half of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Friday, underscoring the country’s growing dependence on overseas labor. Among them, 94,000 will be seasonal workers on an E-8 visa valid for up to eight months. The rest are reserved for E-9 visa holders who can stay for three years while seeking opportunities in broader industries such as livestock. The number of seasonal workers alone marks a 53 percent increase from the 61,248 allocated in the first half of last year. According to the ministry, the number of migrant workers in the agricultural sector stood at 20,738 in 2020, but quickly shot up to 85,292 in 2024 and 130,259 in 2025, marking an increase of more than six times. With the figure for the first half of this year already exceeding 100,000, the annual total is expected to reach 140,000 this year, setting another record. The sharp increase is tied to government efforts to address the labor vacuum in rural areas. In Korea, April to June and September to