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Mother apprehended in crackdown, 5-year-old child left alone cried through the night.

Crackdown System Neglected Children… No Protection Was Provided During a crackdown operation by the Ulsan Immigration Office, a 5-year-old child was left at a shelter without their mother. Although a system existed, there were no practical protective measures for the child. Repeated neglect and indifference, what have we left for this child? “It only took a day to break one child” “The child was crying, had a nosebleed, and kept looking for their mother.” On June 11, Ms. A, an undocumented migrant woman from Cambodia working, was apprehended during a crackdown by the Ulsan Immigration Office in Gyeongju. The issue was that Ms. A had a young son. Ms. A's son, Mr. B (5), was at daycare and was only transferred to the shelter in the afternoon, but the child, confined in an unfamiliar environment without his mother, exhibited extreme distress. “The child's condition was very severe. Separation measures were eventually taken, but the child was already mentally breaking down.” Mr. B is currently receiving temporary care at an acquaintance's home, but it is uncertain how long this arrangement can continue. Loopholes in the Crackdown System for Undocumented Migrants The Ministry of Justice's 'Temporary Release for Protection' system is intended to help children stay with their parents in such situations, but it did not function in reality. Ms. A applied for this system but was only informed that a decision could take up to three weeks. During that period, the child was effectively left outside the system. Thus, while legal procedures are ongoing, the child is excluded from care. Even if a system exists, if practical protection is not provided, it is no different from having 'no system'. A child breaks down much faster than legal processes. “This is not a simple administrative failure” Lee Chun-gi, director of the Gyeongju Migrant Workers Center, strongly criticized, stating, “Mr. B had reached his emotional and physical limits, and this constitutes child abuse and a violation of human rights.” The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) also condemned the crackdown, labeling it “barbaric human hunting,” and demanded, “The government must take responsibility for neglecting the child.” Indeed, a similar incident occurred in Yangju last November. At that time, a 3-year-old child was left alone during a crackdown, and activists had to personally take the child to daycare. There is also a case where a pregnant migrant woman was deported without any protection after sustaining injuries during a crackdown, resulting in a miscarriage. The repetition of such cases indicates that this is not merely a 'coincidence' or 'deviation', but rather a 'structural' issue. Systemic Improvements to Reduce Harm Are Urgently Needed Experts unanimously agree that the following systemic improvements are necessary: Shorten administrative procedures to expedite decisions for the Temporary Release for Protection system Link individuals subject to crackdown who have minor children with dedicated child protection teams immediately Regularly implement human rights sensitivity and child protection duty training for crackdown agencies Establish a minimal emergency protection system for undocumented migrant families The law can be enforced through crackdowns. However, if the greater law—the principle of protecting human beings—is undermined in the process, we are merely left with “administration for the sake of results.” “No one has the right to make a child cry” This incident is not merely a tragedy experienced by one family. It serves as a mirror reflecting the question of “who are the system and administration for?” The moment the mother disappeared, the child also disappeared from society. The law existed, but no one protected the child. The anxiety and trauma this child experienced will not easily heal with the passage of time. Are we currently operating the system in a way that destroys someone's life? So that children's cries are not repeated, now is the last chance to change the structure.

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A long time ago
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Won, but 0 won... Wages that cannot be received even with the law

"Court ruled, but the money is 0 won"... Justice subjected to false hope Foreign sailors A and B from Indonesia, who had not received wages for over a year, received a court ruling for 'full payment of unpaid wages', but reality was harsh. Their application for advance payment from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service was rejected due to unmet requirements, forcing them to go through the arduous process of civil compulsory execution once again. After winning the case, facing the outcome of '0 won', A said, "I thought the court would resolve it. But nothing has changed." The blind spot of the advance payment system excludes foreign sailors The core of the problem lies in the 'advance payment system'. This system is structured such that if an employer fails to pay wages, the government pays a certain amount first and then exercises its right of recourse against the employer later. However, workplaces with five or fewer employees, or those engaged in fishing or small vessel operations, are exceptions. The boat on which A and B worked fell under these conditions, and as a result, they were not protected. An official from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service explained, "This is not a system that replaces court-ordered payments. There are separate eligibility requirements for payment, and debt recovery must be pursued through civil procedures." "There are laws, but no protection"... Experts also urge system improvement An official from a human rights organization for migrant workers pointed out, "Foreign sailors are placed in a labor blind spot. The structure where they are not protected by the system even after winning a legal case is a clear systemic failure." Statistics also show that a significant portion of wage arrears cases involving migrant workers are closed without actual wage recovery even after a court ruling. Some success stories exist... but it depends on 'luck' On the other hand, Indonesian sailor C, who maintained a good relationship with his employer, received all his wages normally and succeeded in extending his visa. However, this is an extremely rare case and is only talked about as having been "lucky." Implication: A structure is needed for legal rights to be substantively guaranteed Experts propose the following improvements to the system: Expand the advance payment system to include those engaged in fishing and small vessel operations. Establish a simplified procedure for advance payment of a certain amount based solely on court rulings. Provide legal and administrative support for civil compulsory execution. Systematic response is necessary, including sharing successful cases and conducting a comprehensive survey of victims. The reality that foreign sailors cannot even receive fair compensation for their hard work in Korea. Their cases, where they are not protected despite legal rulings, clearly demonstrate the loopholes in the system. If Korean society is to truly respect the 'reward for labor', it is urgent to establish **substantive protection measures** that go beyond legal declarations.

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A long time ago
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1,560,000 Foreign Workers… 17.4% Experienced Discrimination

【SEOUL = STENKA NEWS】 The number of foreign workers residing in Korea has surpassed 1.5 million, but it has been revealed that a significant portion of them are still experiencing discrimination and human rights violations. According to data recently released by Statistics Korea, 17.4% of foreigners residing in the country experienced discrimination in the past year. The main reasons cited for discrimination were country of origin (54.5%), lack of Korean language proficiency (31.2%), and appearance (9.1%). Experts emphasize that these figures hold meaning beyond mere statistics. In particular, foreign workers are concentrated in "3D" jobs (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) such as manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, placing them in a more vulnerable position due to poor working conditions and language and cultural barriers. In fact, it was recently revealed that foreign workers at a farm in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, suffered long-term assault and wage arrears, leading to the arrest of the employer. Such incidents are being viewed not just as individual misconduct but as symbolic cases revealing the absence of institutional protection. A representative from a foreign human rights organization stated, "It has been a long time since Korean society entered a multicultural era, but the perception of foreigners is still exclusionary," adding, "To reduce discrimination, strong legal protection must be accompanied by an improvement in public perception." The government has announced plans for legislative revisions and strengthened management and supervision to protect foreign workers, but there are strong voices calling for urgent and effective changes that can be felt in the field. "Korean industry cannot run without foreign workers. However, if they are not respected, the dignity of society as a whole will inevitably fall." – From a statement by the Migrant Labor Human Rights Network

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A long time ago
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‘62 People Trapped on Pig Farm’… The Full Story of the Assault and Wage Theft Case of Foreign Workers at a Pig Farm in Y…

[Yeongam, Jeonnam = April 29, 2025] Mr. A (46), the owner of a pig farm in Yeongam, Jeonnam, was arrested on the 28th on charges of habitually assaulting 62 foreign workers from Nepal and Vietnam, and defaulting on approximately 260 million won in wages and severance pay. The Mokpo Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "A significant number of victimized workers received wages below the minimum wage and were exposed to violence and confinement."Nepalese Youth Who Died Two Months Ago Becomes a ClueThis case came to light after a Nepalese youth in his 20s, Mr. B, who was working at the same farm, died in February due to workplace bullying. Colleagues then requested external help, bringing the issue to the surface. Investigations confirmed that 62 individuals, including Mr. B, had experienced human rights violations such as long working hours, assault, and confiscation of passports and mobile phones.Unpaid Wages Amount to 260 Million Won... "De Facto Human Trafficking"According to the Ministry of Labor, Mr. A paid workers approximately 1.2 million won per month and did not settle overtime pay or severance pay at all. Many of the victims stated, "We were forced to clean pigsties even outside of work hours, and we had no days off." Human rights and labor organizations pointed out, "Given that the employer locked the accommodations and controlled their movements, it essentially amounts to human trafficking."Labor and Human Rights Groups Urge "Arrest of All Perpetrators and Fundamental Measures"Upon learning of the incident, the National Migrant Workers' Union and 15 human rights organizations held a press conference in front of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency on the 29th, urging "fundamental measures including the arrest of all responsible parties and the abolition of the employment permit system for agriculture and livestock industries." They argued, "This is not an issue that can be resolved by punishing one employer; it is structural violence that has been neglected systemically," demanding, "The government must fulfill its duty of protection, not mediation."Ministry of Employment and Labor: "Form Dedicated TF for Comprehensive Investigation"Considering the severity of the case, the Ministry of Employment and Labor launched an emergency inspection of working conditions for foreign workers in approximately 30 farms in the Yeongam area. Kim Hyun-jung, head of the Mokpo Branch, announced, "We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the entire agriculture and livestock industry employing foreign workers to prevent similar cases."Expert: "Without EPS Improvement, Human Rights Violations Will Recur"Lee Sang-min, director of the Korea Migrant Labor Research Institute, emphasized, "Under the current Employment Permit System (EPS), employers effectively control workers' visa status, leading to extreme 'employment dependency.'" He stressed the urgent need for "easing restrictions on changing workplaces, strengthening worker rights education, and securing constant interpretation and reporting channels."Protection Measures for Victimized Workers The Mokpo Branch plans to provide advance payments for a portion of the unpaid wages to all 62 victimized workers and will also offer support for industrial accidents and psychological therapy. Provisional seizure measures will be taken against Mr. A's real estate and farm assets once the procedures for securing claims for unpaid wages are completed.

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A long time ago
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