South Korea's interior ministry inspects heat risks for foreign seasonal farm workers

South Korea's interior ministry said Sunday that Kim Gwang-yong inspected working conditions for foreign seasonal farm workers and livestock heat protections in Yesan, South Chungcheong Province, after foreign workers died while working in extreme heat in Haenam and Hongseong.

Language barriers may limit foreign workers' awareness of heat-wave guidance and rest-period protections, placing them at particular risk. "The lives and safety of on-site workers are paramount amid the continuing heat wave," Kim Gwang-yong, the interior ministry's disaster and safety management chief, said. He urged farm owners and local government officials to ensure that agricultural workers, including foreign seasonal laborers, avoid work in the hottest hours and get adequate rest.

Of the 2,441 heat-illness cases reported between May 15 and Aug. 4, 625, or 25.6 percent, occurred at outdoor workplaces. The ministry delivered heat-illness prevention booklets in 18 native languages and cooling supplies, asking recipients to share the materials with colleagues, after President Lee Jae-myung emphasized native-language guidance for foreign workers on Aug. 6.

The ministry raised its heat-wave disaster crisis alert to the "serious" level on July 27 and activated level 2 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Aug. 2. Agriculture, health and labor ministries have also activated emergency-response bodies, including accident-recovery support headquarters. The ministry said it would continue field inspections with central and local governments until heat alerts are fully lifted and increase monitoring in vulnerable areas and among vulnerable groups.

Kim also visited a pig farm, checking ventilation and cooling equipment, mist sprayers, cooling pads and emergency generators. He asked farm managers to maintain barn ventilation and water supplies. "We will do our utmost to swiftly support affected farms in cooperation with related ministries," Kim said.