The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will conduct a field inspection tomorrow (September 30) into Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, which has withheld the passports of foreign seasonal workers for over four months.

In data submitted to the office of lawmaker Kang Myung-gu, the Ministry stated that it plans to confirm whether there are victims of human trafficking through an investigation of the seasonal workers and then proceed with the process of designating victims.

Regarding the September 21 SBS report that Jeongeup City kept a large number of foreign seasonal workers' passports for a prolonged period and refused to return them, the Ministry responded, "Because passports were seized to prevent seasonal workers recruited and transported from the Philippines from leaving their workplaces, it falls under human trafficking."

In a written response submitted to the same lawmaker's office, Jeongeup City explained that it was merely temporarily storing the passports to assist with administrative procedures, adding that there was no intent to exploit or use coercion, and that the issue stemmed from inexperience in handling duties.

Regarding the Immigration Act provision prohibiting the seizure of passports, Jeongeup City claimed, "This refers to forcibly taking them away for purposes such as preventing departure or enslavement," and asserted that "there was absolutely no exercise of power or coercion."

At the same time, the city stated, "We recognized on the 18th during media reporting and on-site checks by related agencies that holding some unreturned passports could pose legal issues and human rights infringement concerns."

During a session on the 18th attended by relevant municipal officials and immigration officials from the Ministry of Justice, Jeongeup City officials explained to SBS reporters that the purpose of retaining the passports was "to prevent desertion," and mentioned that "the desertion rate decreased after we started managing the passports last year."

At the time, Jeongeup City refused a request by a Filipino seasonal worker using the pseudonym Karen to return her passport, but handed it back upon the demand of immigration authorities, and later stated that it returned all 59 passports following the SBS report.

North Jeolla Province has launched an on-site inspection targeting all farms assigned with seasonal workers in the province, and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea is also investigating related grievance filings.