Shinan-gun Cheonil Salt Producers Association Requests to Refrain from Using the Term "Salt Farm Slaves"

"We Will Do Our Best to Improve the Salt Farm Workers' Issues"

The Cheonil Salt Producers Association of Sinan County issued an appeal on the morning of the 3rd at the Jeonnam Provincial Office, requesting to refrain from using the term "salt farm slaves." ⓒ Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The Jeonnam Sinan-gun Solar Salt Producers Association (President Hong Cheol-gi) issued an appeal on the morning of the 3rd at the Jeonnam Provincial Office, asking media outlets to refrain from using the term ‘salt field slaves’ in recent reports on the issues faced by salt field workers.

President Hong Cheol-gi stated in the appeal, “Regarding the recent media coverage on the human rights issues of salt field workers, it is heartbreaking that false information and exaggerated interpretations of isolated incidents are defaming even the honest solar salt workers.”

He continued, “Although such incidents can occur in any region nationwide, some media outlets are exploiting the fact that our living environment is on an island by using provocative terms such as ‘slaves’ and ‘escape,’ thereby spreading incorrect information and perceptions about the Sinan-gun salt fields to the public, which is very regrettable.”

He added, “The majority of producers are fully aware of the seriousness of the recent worker issues at some salt fields, and to prevent recurrence, we are conducting human rights education through solar salt producer training and self-purification resolution meetings.”

The association stated, “To protect socially vulnerable groups, we operate a permanent consultative body with related agencies such as Jeonnam Province, Sinan-gun, the police, and the Labor Office,” and emphasized, “Solar salt producers are also making multifaceted efforts to resolve these issues, so we ask the public to actively pay attention and watch closely.”

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