[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

“US government bans import of South Korea's largest salt flat due to forced labour allegations”, 6 April 2025

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, announced on April 3 (local time) that it had imposed an import ban on salt produced at the Taepyung Salt Farm in South Korea. The decision was made after determining that the salt was produced using forced labour involving individuals with disabilities.

…Following an investigation into the Taepyung Salt Farm, the CBP revealed that it had found evidence of violations consistent with the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicators for forced labour, including "exploitation of vulnerability, deception, restrictions on movement, confiscation of identification cards, poor living and working conditions, intimidation and threats, physical violence, debt bondage, wage withholding, and excessive overtime."

Located on Jeungdo, Sinan County, South Jeolla Province, the Taepyung Salt Farm, established in 1953, is the largest single salt production site in South Korea.

In 2007, it was designated as a national heritage site, and it produces approximately 16,000 tonnes of domestic sun-dried salt annually, accounting for about 6% of the country's total production.

However, most of the salt Farm are leased to salt producers, and cases of forced labour involving individuals with intellectual disabilities have repeatedly occurred, sparking concerns. In May 2021, a disabled worker who had escaped from the salt Farm exposed the facts of confinement and wage exploitation.

…The CBP’s action marks the first time a foreign government has halted the import of a domestic company's products due to forced labour.