A disturbing video from a South Korean brick factory ignited outrage, leading to direct intervention from the country’s president and sparking a series of government actions to protect foreign workers. The footage, released publicly on 24 July, shows a 31-year-old Sri Lankan worker bound in plastic wrap, tied to a pallet of bricks, and lifted by a forklift as onlookers laughed.
The incident took place on 26 February in the city of Naju, where a South Korean co-worker allegedly punished him over dissatisfaction with his brick-wrapping skills.
President Lee Jae Myung expressed his horror, stating he “couldn’t believe [his] eyes” and called the act an “intolerable violation and clear human rights infringement.” He immediately ordered a full investigation into the working conditions of migrant workers across the country.
Factory Faces Strict Penalties
In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor moved swiftly against the Naju brick factory, initiating steps to revoke its permit to hire foreign workers—a ban that could last up to three years. The ministry also launched a comprehensive probe into the facility, examining potential workplace harassment, wage violations, and safety law breaches.
The victim, who had been in South Korea for only three months on an E-9 visa, reportedly suffered significant mental anguish and left company housing. Authorities expedited a transfer to a new employer willing to provide a safer environment with language support and training.
Nationwide Crackdown Launched
The public outrage has triggered a broader governmental response. On 18 August, the Korean National Police Agency announced a 100-day nationwide crackdown on abuses targeting migrant workers. Special units across 18 regional agencies will investigate cases of violence, assault, confinement, and labor exploitation until November 25.
Furthermore, the Labor Ministry has intensified its efforts, launching a three-week special inspection period from August 11-29 targeting workplaces with large numbers of foreign workers. The initiative makes Wednesdays counseling days, with interpreters and labor attorneys at employment centres to help migrant workers file complaints.
A Global Problem
This case resonates beyond South Korea, highlighting a global challenge in protecting migrant labour rights. It follows recent incidents in other regions, including a case in Singapore where an LTA engineer was counseled after a viral video showed him hitting a foreign construction worker’s head with a license during a safety reprimand, which the authority condemned as unacceptable.
As South Korean Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon stated during a farm inspection, “Promoting the labour rights of foreign workers without discrimination is one of the most urgent tasks in our society.”
Watch the disturbing video here:
@goodforeigner_kr A Sri Lankan Worker Wrapped in Plastic. Lifted Like a cargo – even president responded! KoreaNews MigrantWorkers HumanRights StopAbuse JusticeForWorkers ForeignWorkersInKorea NajuIncident SriLankaAbroad DignityForAll ViralVideo WorkplaceAbuse NewsForForeigners #StandWithWorkers 한국뉴스 외국인노동자 인권침해 직장괴롭힘 이주노동자 나주사건 스리랑카노동자 인권존중 외국인근로자 차별금지
South Korea’s response:
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