Migrant Worker Tied and Dragged by Forklift: Korean Perpetrator Booked by Police

Police Book Forklift Driver A on Charges of Special Unlawful Confinement
"Dragged for Over 30 Minutes"... Evidence of Involvement or Bystanding by 20 Coworkers
Employment and Labor Office Launches Inspection... Additional Violations Under Investigation

A Korean national identified as the perpetrator in the case of a Sri Lankan migrant worker being tied up in a cargo hold and dragged around with a forklift has been booked by the police.

The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 26th that they had booked a Korean man in his 50s, referred to as Mr. A, without detention on charges including special unlawful confinement and special assault. Mr. A is accused of wrapping his coworker, Mr. B (31), with industrial plastic and tying him to a pile of bricks at a brick factory in Naju, Jeonnam, on February 26. He then allegedly lifted Mr. B with a forklift and dragged him around the site.

The incident was filmed and released to the media, sparking widespread public outrage. President Lee Jaemyung declared, "We will strictly punish such barbaric human rights violations." In response to the growing social outcry, the police belatedly launched an investigation. After hearing the victim's account directly from Mr. B, the police booked Mr. A on the same day.

The police applied charges of special unlawful confinement and special assault, citing video evidence that showed Mr. A using equipment and tools to restrict the victim’s physical freedom and inflict physical violence.

The Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers Network, which is supporting the victim, claimed that the forklift abuse lasted for over 30 minutes, and that about 20 coworkers present at the scene either stood by or even participated. The police plan to summon Mr. A for questioning soon and will also investigate whether other employees present at the scene were involved in any criminal activity.

Additionally, authorities will look into whether there were other repeated illegal acts at the factory, such as workplace bullying, verbal abuse, and power harassment, which were not captured on video. The Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Office has also launched a special inspection to investigate possible violations of the Labor Standards Act.