Salt Farm Labor Exploitation: "Just When You're About to Forget, It Happens Again"... Desolation Hovers Over Salt Fields

"Just when you're about to forget, another incident happens. Unless perceptions change, we cannot prevent human rights abuses."

On June 24, a salt farm on the west coast of South Jeolla Province was enveloped in an atmosphere that was not just quiet, but downright desolate.

Following news a week ago that an owner and employees at a small-scale salt farm in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province, had assaulted, confined, and exploited three workers for several years, this area, densely packed with salt farms, also appeared heavily subdued.

Due to dark clouds covering the sky instead of blazing sunlight, not even a shadow of a person could be seen in or around the crystallizing ponds of the salt farms, which span hundreds of thousands of square meters.

Normally, the area would be bustling with workers scraping salt or maintaining waterways, but on this day, only a few workers were occasionally spotted walking briskly away from the crystallizing ponds.


Leaving the crystallizing ponds behind and entering the shelters and dormitories where workers reportedly eat and sleep for months, the poor living conditions immediately catch the eye.

As soon as the unlocked iron door was opened, a damp, musty smell of mold struck the nose. In the sink, where leftover food remained uncleaned, and on the water cups and refrigerator nearby, thick layers of dust had accumulated, as if they had not been touched in a long time.

The container-style shelter, which contained little more than bedding, had an uneven floor painted directly over cement instead of being covered with linoleum, and traces of moisture were visible across the wallpaper.

Only a rocking chair placed in a corner of the shelter had its armrests worn white from human touch.

One worker, who said he had been working at the salt farm for four years, said, "Although they say the living space has improved compared to the past, it still falls short when compared to accommodations at other work sites. Due to the nature of the salt industry, which is heavily influenced by the weather, we have no choice but to live near the crystallizing ponds."

Pointing to the crystallizing ponds stretching outside the dormitory, he confided, "Most of these salt farms are located on islands or the outskirts of cities, making it difficult to go outside even after work. It gets pitch black at night, so we are cautious about going out, and it's hard to know what is happening nearby."

An owner met at a salt farm let out a deep sigh when asked about the recurring cases of labor exploitation and human rights abuses.

The owner, who said he had worked in salt farms since his second year of high school before running one himself, said, "They say things have improved, but it is still not enough."

Thumping his chest in frustration, he argued, "This mess happens because the perception of treating workers as inferiors does not change. That is why, no matter how many times inspections or investigations are conducted, it keeps repeating."

He pointed out, "While the relationship between an owner and a worker is an employment relationship, some owners commit deviations because they are stuck in the past culture and mindset of producing salt through communal labor sharing (*pumasi*). The perception of viewing workers as subordinates rather than colleagues is also a reason why human rights violations recur, and this must be completely overhauled."

In particular, he emphasized that there are clear limitations to the current fact-finding survey methods used by local governments, making their improvement an urgent priority.

"Even when public officials conduct on-site inspections, they only go as far as checking documents such as employment contracts and payroll statements already prepared by the salt farms," he explained. "Unless the workers open up about their victimization, the true situation cannot be grasped."

However, he appealed that the criminal acts of a few owners should not be generalized to the entire salt industry, nor should a "scarlet letter" be branded on all of them.

"Owners are also making efforts in their own ways to improve the poor environments and are conducting their own human rights education, but this is not being publicized," he sighed, adding, "It is unfortunate that the crime of a single owner is viewed as a crime of the entire industry."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.