This photo, taken on Nov. 21, 2019, shows Pacific sauries hung up to dry in the southeastern coastal city of Pohang. (Yonhap)
POHANG, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — With the season of drying Pacific sauries setting in, the southeastern coastal city of Pohang plans to promote seasonal work for foreigners to address the shortage of labor at fishing villages.
Dried sauries, through a repeated process of freezing and thawing, turn into what is locally known as “gwamegi,” a popular delicacy among South Koreans.
The city government plans to allow about 90 foreign relatives of the city’s married immigrant women to participate in the work of drying gwamegi at fishing villages over the 90 to 150 days starting from Oct. 31.
Since 2017, the city government has invited foreign relatives of the city’s married immigrant women every year during the gwamegi season to address the shortage of workforce at fishing villages.
This seasonal work program for foreigners has grown popular over the years.
All of the invited foreigners are paid more than minimum wage plus free accommodations.
This year, it was difficult for the city government to invite seasonal foreign workers due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increased burden in time and cost arising from their quarantine in self-catered facilities and the suspension of flights.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
