Seafarers owed W677m in unpaid wages ahead of Chuseok

Unpaid wages owed to seafarers reached 677 million won ($489,000) ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the government said Tuesday. A special labor inspection recovered 431 million won of the total, but 246 million won remains outstanding.

South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said it conducted a month-long special labor inspection beginning Aug. 19 to prevent and resolve wage arrears among seafarers, securing payment of 431 million won in back wages.

The ministry deployed inspection teams across 11 regional maritime affairs offices nationwide, focusing on 36 worksites with a history of repeated wage delays or identified as at risk of non-payment.

Inspectors confirmed total unpaid wages of 677 million won. The ministry directed employers to pay 431 million won of that amount, representing 63.7 percent of the total arrears.

The remaining 246 million won has yet to be paid. The ministry said it will continue monitoring the relevant worksites and urge employers to settle outstanding wages. Those that fail to comply will face investigation for potential violations of the Seafarers Act.

Inspection teams also informed seafarers of available support systems. On-site guidance covered the wage recovery process through the Seafarers' Wage Bond Guarantee Fund, as well as free legal aid services offered through the Korea Seafarers' Welfare and Employment Center and the Korea Legal Aid Corporation.

The ministry conducts special labor inspections ahead of the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays each year. During this year's Lunar New Year period, it inspected 33 worksites and secured payment of 403 million won in back wages for 55 seafarers.

"We will not only conduct special labor inspections ahead of Chuseok, but also build a year-round labor inspection framework to monitor recurring wage arrears and, where necessary, pursue legal action to ensure that wage non-payment does not occur," said Kim Hye-jeong, director general of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' maritime and logistics bureau.