The number of foreign workers in South Korea's farming and fishing sector jumped 3.5-fold in 2012 from three years earlier, data showed Tuesday.

According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the number of immigrant workers in the country's farming and fishing sector came to 4,863 last year, compared to 1,390 tallied in 2009.

Local households employing foreign workers also jumped more than four-fold to reach 2,677 units over the cited period, the data also showed.

Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul, held the largest number of employers at 1,034 units, trailed by South Chungcheong Province with 378 units and the southern resort island of Jeju with 251 units.

Rep. Kim Choon-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party said the rise is attributable to the fast-aging population in the rural areas, which induced them to hire foreign workers to meet labor needs.

Kim added the government should tighten its surveillance on the working conditions in the rural areas to ensure that foreign workers' rights are guaranteed. (Yonhap News)