(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 28th that it plans to supply a record high of 102,000 foreign workers to the agricultural sector next year in consultation with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The size of the allocation of foreign workers for seasonal work in farming households next year is planned to be 87,375 people in the first half alone, an increase of about 43% compared to the first half of last year. Through public-type seasonal work, 4,729 people will be introduced at 130 locations, which is 40 more than last year. Also, 10,000 foreign workers who received employment permits will be allocated, the same as last year. Plans are also in place to additionally allocate seasonal foreign workers in the second half, reflecting the needs of farming households. From next year, the cultivation business of grains and other food crops, which has not been able to assign employment permit foreign workers so far, will also be able to assign foreign workers. Also, the minimum cultivation area for employment permits in the protected horticulture and special crops sectors, such as lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes, has been relaxed, allowing small-scale farms cultivating 1,000 to 2,000 square meters to employ foreign workers for a minimum of three years up to a maximum of four years and eight months. ykim@yna.co.kr