Baguio City to dispatch seasonal workers to Taebaek

South Korea’s Taebaek City, around180 kilometers west of Seoul, is set to launch a seasonal worker program in collaboration with Baguio City in the Philippines.

According to foreign media on Feb. 20, the Baguio Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and related agencies are currently in the process of selecting agricultural workers for deployment to Taebaek.

This initiative aims to provide local farmers with an opportunity to earn additional income through overseas internships while strengthening agricultural cooperation between the two nations.

In addition, the program seeks to further solidify the relationship between Taebaek and its sister city, Baguio.

Eligible applicants must be between the ages of 25 and 50 at the time of application, have relevant agricultural experience, and possess basic English communication skills.

The selected workers are expected to arrive in South Korea in the second week of April and will be employed for a minimum of three months and up to a maximum of five months. However, the exact number of workers to be dispatched has not been disclosed.

This program is being carried out following a Memorandum of Understanding signed last March between Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Taebaek Mayor Lee Sang-ho, aimed at recruiting foreign seasonal workers.

Since establishing a sister city agreement in 2006, Taebaek and Baguio have actively engaged in exchange programs, including annual reciprocal visits and the dispatch of government officials for training and cooperation.

Baguio is a highly urbanized city in the northern Philippines. It is famous for a cool climate in the summer as the area is located almost 1.5 kilometers above mean sea level.