"'Ulsan-style' foreign workforce programme engulfed in forced labour controversy... A risk to K-shipbuilding exports?", 06 August 2026

The "shipbuilding-tailored foreign workforce training pilot programme", launched under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, has become embroiled in controversy over forced labour (human trafficking). This is because it has been confirmed that Uzbek workers who entered the country under the programme were made to sign a pledge requiring them to pay a fine of USD 2,000 (approximately KRW 2.8 million) a month to the Uzbek government if they changed employers or stopped working.

According to industry sources on the 6th, a total of 385 Uzbek workers had been placed at shipbuilding companies in Ulsan through the programme as of June this year. They had signed pledges stating that they would pay the Uzbek government USD 2,000 a month if they changed workplaces or stopped working without the company's consent.

The problem is that this pledge can effectively function as a device to prevent workers from changing jobs. From the workers' perspective, having to pay 2,000 dollars a month every time they change companies makes it practically difficult to change workplaces.

Legal circles believe this arrangement may violate South Korea's labour relations laws.

…

The Ministry of Employment and Labour said, "This is a system independently operated by the Uzbek government to prevent workers from absconding," adding, "We were not aware of this beforehand and are currently confirming and reviewing the facts." The city of Ulsan likewise said it "had absolutely no knowledge" of the fact that the Uzbek government had made the workers sign pledges to pay a 2,000-dollar fine.

…

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the government body responsible for preventing human trafficking, recognising the seriousness of the situation, has already sent official letters to the Ministry of Employment and Labour, the Ministry of Justice and the city of Ulsan requesting that they confirm the facts.