Goseong County and Kang Hospital Join Hands to Protect the Health and Rights of Foreign Seasonal Workers

Establishing Inclusive Healthcare and a Safe Working Environment

Goseong County in South Gyeongsang Province has joined hands with Kang Hospital, a local medical institution, to ensure the health rights and create a safe working environment for foreign seasonal workers.

Goseong County and Kang Byungwon Join Hands to Protect the Health and Human Rights of Foreign Seasonal Workers.

On March 10, an agreement was signed at the county office’s open conference room between Goseong County and Kang Hospital for "Basic Health and Drug Testing for Foreign Seasonal Workers." This agreement is regarded as a model case of close cooperation between the government and private medical institutions to safeguard the health and safety of seasonal workers, who play a key role in addressing the rural labor shortage.

Until now, Goseong County has consistently supported drug and basic health testing to help seasonal workers settle stably. With this agreement, the county further strengthened its collaborative system with the local base hospital.

In particular, Kang Hospital, sympathizing with the difficulties faced in rural areas and to fulfill its social responsibility, has decided to reduce the cost of these tests by 25% compared to the previous year.

Both institutions have pledged not only to reduce testing costs, but also to build a systematic safety net so that seasonal workers can work in Goseong County with peace of mind. They plan to implement a human rights-focused approach by identifying pre-existing conditions in advance and closely monitoring the possibility of heat-related illnesses among workers vulnerable to summer heat waves.

With this agreement, more than 700 workers expected to enter the country this year will directly benefit. The county also anticipates approximately KRW 14 million in annual budget savings, as well as an increase in public trust in the county administration through public-private cooperation.

Kim Hwajin, Head of Rural Policy, stated, "Thanks to the active social contribution of local medical institutions, Goseong County's health services have become more specialized," and added, "Going forward, we will focus our administrative efforts on creating a mutually beneficial agricultural environment where seasonal workers can enjoy high-quality medical services without financial burden and work safely."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.