A disturbing video showing a Sri Lankan migrant worker being moved by a forklift while bound has prompted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to demand action to prevent further abuses of migrant workers. The footage, which surfaced earlier this week, illustrates a shocking incident that has ignited public outrage and raised serious concerns about human rights conditions for foreign laborers in the country.
In a post on social media, President Lee expressed his disbelief, stating, “After watching the video, I couldn’t believe my eyes. That was an intolerable violation and clear human rights abuses of a minority person.” During a Cabinet Council meeting, he reiterated the need for immediate measures to address the plight of migrant workers and protect South Korea’s international image.
The video was recorded in late February at a brick factory located in Naju, a city in the southwestern part of South Korea. Human rights activists, who released the footage on Wednesday, confirmed it was taken by another Sri Lankan worker. The clip shows a South Korean forklift driver lifting the bound worker, who had been wrapped in plastic and tied to bricks, while moving him around the factory yard. Laughter can be heard in the background, highlighting the cruelty of the incident.
According to Mun Gil Ju, one of the activists involved in publicizing the video, the 31-year-old victim suffered this treatment as punishment for what the driver deemed inadequate skills in wrapping bricks. The abuse lasted for about five minutes before it ended. Despite this traumatic experience, the victim remains employed at the factory, where approximately 24 workers, including migrants from East Timor and Sri Lanka, are employed alongside South Korean nationals.
Local officials in Naju reported that the factory owner claimed the event was intended as a prank. Mun rejected this characterization, stating, “Bounding a person with plastic wraps cannot be dismissed as a prank.” This incident raises broader concerns about the treatment of migrant workers in South Korea, where many face discrimination and exploitation in low-paying and hazardous jobs.
In response to the outcry, South Korea’s Labor Ministry announced it will conduct an investigation into the factory’s practices, specifically looking into allegations of physical abuse, bullying, and issues related to unpaid wages. This scrutiny comes amid a backdrop where hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, primarily from Southeast Asia and China, are employed in factories, farms, and other sectors with reports of widespread mistreatment.
As the investigation unfolds, the government is under pressure to address not only the specific incident captured in the video but also the systemic issues that allow such abuses to occur. The call for comprehensive reforms reflects an urgent need to ensure the safety and dignity of all workers, regardless of their nationality.
