Police, labor authorities, and the Justice Ministry have launched a joint, full-scale investigation into allegations that an air gun was used to abuse a worker at a manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.
On the 7th, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency’s Major Crimes Unit formed a dedicated team of 10 investigators and opened a formal inquiry into the circumstances of the incident. Because police first learned of the case from media reports, they said securing the victim’s testimony will be their top priority before questioning the business owner accused of the act.
The incident occurred on Feb. 20 at a plating company in Hyangnam-eup, Hwaseong. The company owner, identified as A, is accused of pressing an air gun against the body of a Thai worker, identified as B, and discharging high-pressure air. B suffered abdominal swelling and respiratory distress, required surgery at a hospital, and is reported to be in stable, non-life-threatening condition.
Police, together with the Gyeonggi Regional Employment and Labor Office of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, have begun a joint on-site investigation focused on whether there are similar incidents, whether the conduct was habitual, and whether additional victims exist.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a coordinated inspection of the workplace covering labor and occupational safety and health issues. Inspectors will examine not only assault and workplace harassment but also wage arrears, concealment of industrial accidents, and failures to implement required safety and health measures. If violations are confirmed, authorities say they will consider strong measures, including revoking or restricting employment permits and pursuing criminal prosecution.
After the victim applied to the Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service for industrial accident medical benefits, labor authorities said they will expedite compensation procedures under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act.
The Justice Ministry is also taking steps to protect the injured foreign worker. It is reviewing options to guarantee the victim’s immigration status to ensure uninterrupted medical treatment and will investigate whether the accused employer violated immigration-related laws, including illegal hiring.
The case has been treated as a serious human-rights violation against foreign workers and prompted a government-level response. President Lee Jae-myung called violence and discrimination against migrant workers “a grave crime that cannot be tolerated,” ordered a thorough investigation by police and labor authorities, and urged relevant ministries to ensure the victim can receive treatment in Korea regardless of immigration status.
The government plans to step up inspections of workplaces that employ large numbers of foreign workers. Labor authorities said they will use surveys and interviews to focus on harassment and assault at worksites and expand oversight of human-rights abuse cases more broadly.
A police official said authorities will provide tangible support, including counseling and medical assistance, to protect the victim and vowed to pursue a rigorous investigation given the seriousness of the case.
