The U.S. has blocked sea salt imports from South Korea's largest salt farm, over allegations that the farm repeatedly made use of slave labor.

According to an April 7 report from the Associated Press, U.S. Customs and Border Protection found several signs of forced labor at the Taepyung salt farm, including debt bondage, withholding of wages, excessive overtime, abusive living and working conditions, and the retaining of identity and travel documents. Moving forward, customs agents at all U.S. ports of entry have been ordered to hold all sea salt products sourced from Taepyung.

Taepyung — situated on Jeungdo island in Sinan County — produces around 16,000 tons of salt each year, and accounts for 6% of South Korea's total output of the shelf staple. Sinan's salt farms were also exposed for human trafficking and slave labor in 2014, after an investigation from mainland police led to the rescue of dozens of victims, the majority of whom had disabilities. In a 2015 interview with the AP, one victim described how the farms were "a living hell," where workers were forced to mine salt crystals from the muddy fields of the remote island for 18 hours a day with no pay.

Taepyung has been accused of using forced labor as recently as 2021, although South Korea's Foreign Ministry told the AP that it took steps to address the farm's labor practices in the ensuing years. The ministry also asserts that none of the salt in Sinan is sourced from forced labor, although it did not provide evidence to substantiate that claim. In the meantime, it plans to "actively engage" with U.S. officials in hopes of reversing the order to block Taepyung's salt exports.