Zero Unauthorized Departures: How South Korea’s Fishing Industry Fixed Its Labor Gap

The CEN News / Reporter Lee Myung-shin | Yeosu City in South Jeolla Province has partnered with Ubay City in the Philippines on a foreign seasonal worker program that is doing more than easing labor shortages in coastal fishing communities — it has become a gateway of opportunity, improving Filipino workers’ quality of life.

According to Yeosu City, the program — launched in 2024 to address chronic labor shortages in fishing communities — has placed 388 Filipino workers at local oyster farms and other facilities.

High levels of job satisfaction among participants have led many former workers to seek rehire: this year, 154 were rehired.

Yeosu City’s systematic management and consistent on-site communication have reduced unauthorized departures to zero — a problem that affects other municipalities — bolstering public confidence in the administration.

For the second half of 2026, Yeosu City conducted intensive recruitment interviews in the Philippines from May 6–11, selecting 285 candidates out of 384 applicants for their demonstrated reliability and strong work ethic.

Yeosu City officials said “Thanks to the seasonal workers’ diligent service at local fish farms, the program has operated very stably with no departures.” and added “We will continue to work to ease labor shortages in fishing communities while ensuring this program remains a gateway of opportunity for foreign workers to pursue their dreams.”

(The CEN News) Reporter Lee Myung-shin lmssarang2@naver.com