South Korea’s winter sea is often described as a symbol of endurance and diligence. Behind this image, however, are workers whose conditions have raised formal concern from the United States government.

In recent Trafficking in Persons Reports, the U.S. State Department has identified South Korea’s fishing industry as a sector with a high risk of forced labor, pointing to structural conditions that align with modern slavery.

The State Department highlights the Employment Permit System, known as the E-9 visa, as a central source of vulnerability. Under this system, a migrant worker’s legal status is closely tied to a single employer, and changing workplaces is severely restricted. According to the report, this power imbalance allows employers to impose excessive working hours, withhold wages, confiscate passports, and limit workers’ movement. Workers who attempt to report abuse risk dismissal and the immediate loss of their legal residency status, which discourages complaints and reinforces silence.

Housing control is another major concern. Many foreign fishing laborers live in employer-provided accommodations such as converted shipping containers or temporary shelters. Because housing is dependent on employment, workers face the loss of shelter alongside the loss of income. During winter, inadequate heating and geographic isolation intensify this dependence.

The U.S. State Department emphasizes that forced labor does not require physical confinement. When vulnerability and survival needs are used to remove meaningful choice, forced labor exists. Although South Korea remains classified as a Tier 1 country, the report makes clear that structural exploitation persists within its fishing industry, especially in coastal areas during winter.

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