Forklift operator encounters escalating predicament following foreign worker's accusation of mistreatment
In a shocking incident that took place in July 2025, a Sri Lankan migrant worker at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, was subjected to horrifying abuse. The worker, identified as "A," was tied to cargo and suspended from a forklift as a form of abuse by a Korean worker in his 50s.
The video footage of this inhumane treatment was obtained through a modal window, and it sparked widespread national outrage. President Lee Jae Myung condemned the act, calling it "an unacceptable act of violence against minorities and the vulnerable." He urged swift governmental action to prevent similar abuses.
The Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers Network and the Jeonnam Labor Rights Center were instrumental in bringing the case to light and assisting the victim. The worker had been subjected not only to this physical abuse but also to months of verbal harassment starting from February 2025. However, due to restrictions under South Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS), which restricts migrant workers' ability to change jobs without employer consent, "A" was trapped and vulnerable to continued mistreatment for five months.
Following the viral release of the video, local police indicted the forklift operator without detention on charges including unlawful confinement and assault. Labor authorities also fined him 3 million won for workplace harassment, and he faces further investigation and potential charges under the Labor Standards Act for special assault, which carries harsher penalties.
"A" decided not to pursue further legal punishment against the perpetrator after reaching a confidential financial settlement. Despite this, his decision was clarified by advocacy groups as not an act of forgiveness but a choice to avoid further suffering. The victim is currently supported by religious and civic organizations and may be re-employed by another company in South Jeolla known for better working conditions, language support, and training.
This case has highlighted ongoing challenges faced by migrant workers in South Korea and has prompted calls for reform to better protect foreign laborers from exploitation and abuse. The incident revealed deeper systemic issues related to migrant worker protections in South Korea, particularly the EPS system, which can leave vulnerable foreign workers trapped in abusive workplaces without sufficient legal recourse.
Investigations following the incident have uncovered a possible pattern of mistreatment by the forklift operator, with another former foreign worker from the same factory alleging suffering similar abuse years earlier. Authorities are currently interviewing 21 current and former employees as part of ongoing probes to uncover more victims.
The video footage, though kept confidential at the time of obtaining, is significant as it provides evidence of potential mistreatment of migrant workers in Korea. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of labor protections and enforcement in Korea, particularly for migrant workers, and may have implications for the reputation of the company or industry involved, as well as for Korea's standing as a country that respects the rights and dignity of all workers.
| Aspect | Details | |-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Victim | 31-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker ("A") | | Perpetrator | Korean forklift operator in his 50s | | Nature of abuse | Tying victim to cargo pallet, suspending from forklift, verbal harassment | | Location | Brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province | | Legal action | Indicted without detention; fined 3 million won; facing additional assault charges | | Victim's stance | Chose not to seek further punishment after confidential financial settlement | | Government response | President Lee Jae Myung condemned abuse; calls for stronger protections | | Systemic issues identified | Employment Permit System limits migrant workers’ ability to change jobs or escape abuse | | Advocacy groups involved | Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers Network, Jeonnam Labor Rights Center | | Follow-up | Investigation ongoing; another victim came forward alleging abuse by same perpetrator | | Support for victim | Housing in religious facility; potential new employment with better conditions |
This case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform to protect migrant workers in South Korea and ensure that all workers are treated with dignity and respect.
- The incident involving the Sri Lankan migrant worker "A" at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, has prompted calls for reform in the industry, particularly in regards to migrant worker protections.
- The video footage of the horrifying abuse suffered by "A" has raised questions about the effectiveness of labor protections and enforcement in Korea, especially for migrant workers, potentially affecting the reputation of the company and the country as a whole.
- Advocacy groups, such as the Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers Network and the Jeonnam Labor Rights Center, are actively pursuing workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness in the general news sector, addressing systemic issues for migrant workers in South Korea, such as the Employment Permit System (EPS), to prevent further abuse.
- While crime-and-justice authorities are investigating other potential victims and allegations of ongoing mistreatment by the same forklift operator, "A" has decided not to seek further legal punishment, emphasizing that the decision was not an act of forgiveness but a choice to avoid further suffering.
