Ethiopian migrant worker loses ankle, the ‘deathly fear’ hidden behind machinery 

In April 2025, a tragic accident occurred at a factory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where a 30-year-old Ethiopian woman, attempting to evade a Ministry of Justice crackdown, had her ankle caught in machinery, resulting in amputation. The incident, which happened as she hid behind the machine equipment in extreme fear, has been recorded as a symbolic event exposing the inhumane reality of the government's crackdowns. Such tragedies were predictable; in 2024 in Gimhae, a crackdown that indiscriminately targeted residents, including a naturalized Vietnamese resident, even leading to the handcuffing of a Vietnamese-born resident, had already sparked controversy over human rights violations.

‘Dangerous Crackdowns’ Born from Performance Competition… Government Policy is the Structural Cause 

There is a dominant view that the government's hardline policies are behind the recurrence of such inhumane crackdowns. The Ministry of Justice is focused on achieving a high number of crackdown results through its 'Five-Year Plan to Reduce Undocumented Stayers ('23~'27)'. In this process, 'herding' crackdowns, aimed at apprehending as many individuals as possible, are being carried out indiscriminately in the field, pushing the safety and lives of migrant workers far down the priority list. Ultimately, the government's policy direction is fueling excessive crackdowns and performance competition in the field, structurally generating human rights violations.

Tens of Thousands Deported Annually, Unceasing Accidents… Reality Proven by Statistics 

Objective figures clearly demonstrate the reality of dangerous crackdowns. The Ministry of Justice forcibly expels tens of thousands of undocumented residents annually through joint government crackdowns, during which injuries and fatal accidents are constant. The National Human Rights Commission has pointed out the occurrence of violence and fatal accidents during crackdowns and has repeatedly recommended measures to prevent recurrence. However, the Ministry of Justice has drawn criticism by effectively stating its intention not to comply with demands for disciplinary action against those responsible. The current Immigration Act lacks specific provisions for protecting human rights and ensuring safety during crackdowns, leading to widespread concerns that officials' excessive discretionary power provides a pretext for human rights violations.

Abolish ‘Crackdown-Only Mentality’; Urgent Need for Human Rights-Based Residence Management Policy 

The fundamental solution is that we must no longer rely solely on coercive crackdowns. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has also recommended that the South Korean government investigate the root causes of the increase in undocumented migrants and develop human rights-centered regular migration policies instead of crackdowns. The Ministry of Justice must acknowledge its responsibility for the tragedies caused by anti-human rights crackdowns and immediately undertake institutional improvements to codify safety measures and due process during crackdowns in the Immigration Act. Unless there is a shift towards a policy that prioritizes 'people' over 'results,' under the continuous monitoring of civil society and the National Assembly, further tragedies are bound to be repeated.