[Exclusive] U.S. Bans Imports of Korea’s Largest Salt Products Over Forced Labor

CBP issues Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Taepyeong Salt Field citing forced labor—the first case of a Korean product being banned from U.S. import due to labor abuse.

By Moon Young Lee, April 6, 2025

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the Department of Homeland Security, announced on April 3rd (local time) that it issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Korea's Taepyeong Salt Field, stating that “there is reasonable evidence that forced labor was used in the production of solar salt.” As a result, all CBP officers at U.S. ports of entry are instructed to detain solar salt products from Taepyeong Salt Field immediately.

This marks the first case where a Korean product has been banned from entering a foreign market due to being labeled a "forced labor product."

CBP, which handles customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection, cited findings during its investigation, including exploitation of vulnerable individuals, deception, movement restrictions, confiscation of identification, poor living and working conditions, threats, physical abuse, debt bondage, withheld wages, and excessive overtime—all indicators of forced labor identified by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Taepyeong Salt Field, established in 1953 in Jeungdo, Shinan County, South Jeolla Province, is the largest single salt field in Korea. It was registered as a national heritage site in 2007 and produces about 6% of Korea’s annual solar salt (around 16,000 tons). The field supplies major domestic food companies and also sells products under its own brand. In 2018, the chairman, Ilseon Son, received a presidential award for his contributions to modernizing and promoting Korean solar salt.

However, repeated instances of forced labor involving people with intellectual disabilities have occurred at the facility. A 2021 incident, where a disabled worker escaped and reported abuse (including wage theft amounting to over 115 million KRW), sparked what was dubbed the “Second Salt Field Labor Exploitation Scandal,” echoing a similar 2014 case.

In January 2022, human rights organizations—Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL), the Research Institute for the Differently Abled Person's Right in Korea, and Wongok Law Office—petitioned the CBP to issue a WRO. They highlighted that despite past exploitation, these companies continued to operate without eradicating forced labor from their supply chains. It took 2 years and 5 months for the WRO to be issued. Among OECD countries, Korea is the only one since a 1994 case involving a Japanese video game company to receive such an order.

To lift the ban, the company must prove that its products are not linked to forced labor.

CBP Acting Commissioner Pete Flores emphasized that “combating forced labor is a top priority for CBP,” and “products made with forced labor are not welcome in the U.S.” The agency estimates that around 28 million people globally suffer under forced labor.

The European Union has also moved in a similar direction, passing legislation in November 2024 to ban the circulation of forced labor products by 2027.

A Taepyeong Salt Field official told The Hankyoreh on April 5 that they had been informed by their U.S. buyers that their goods were blocked at customs. Until now, the company has dismissed the exploitation cases as isolated incidents caused by subcontractors.

This WRO highlights the accountability of the Korean government and corporations for their inadequate response to repeated forced labor violations. Despite the 2014 scandal, only one person has been convicted under Article 7 of the Korean Labor Standards Act (prohibiting forced labor), receiving just 1 year and 2 months in prison. Most offenders were punished for fraud, embezzlement, or assault instead.

Even rescued victims often lack access to rehabilitation or support systems, resulting in return to exploitation or isolated, impoverished lives. One victim, 62-year-old Jeong Jin-man (alias), died alone earlier this year without receiving any apology, compensation, or final court judgment.

The organizations behind the WRO petition welcomed the CBP’s decision, urging the Korean government to amend human trafficking and labor laws to include clear penalties and definitions for forced labor crimes. They also called on companies like Taepyeong Salt Field to conduct human rights audits and ensure forced labor is fully eradicated from their operations.