Forced Labor at Sinan Salt Farm for Decades
Reunited With Family After 37 Years, But Suffered Severe Harm
Two Missed Opportunities for Rescue in 2014 and 2023
Timely Separation Failed Due to Difficulty Forcibly Removing an Adult
Controversy has arisen over claims that the police were aware of, yet neglected, a case in which a man with an intellectual disability was subjected to forced labor for decades at a salt farm in Shinan, South Jeolla Province. The police have stated that their actions were unavoidable due to the legal procedures involved.
According to the Jeonnam Provincial Police and other sources on October 21, the victim, identified as Jang (66), has a severe intellectual disability with an IQ of 42 and was forced to work for decades at a salt farm on Shini Island, Shinan County, South Jeolla Province.
Jang went missing in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, in the late 1980s when he was in his late twenties. It is believed that he ended up at the salt farm through unspecified means.
While Jang was enduring harsh labor, authorities conducted an inspection into illegal labor practices at salt farms in the Shinan area. In 2023, after confirming the situation, Shinan County requested an investigation of the salt farm owner, identified as A, by the police, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and other relevant agencies.
During this process, salt farm owner A was prosecuted for violating the Labor Standards Act by failing to pay Jang approximately 66 million won in wages over four and a half years since 2019. A was recently sentenced to a one-year suspended prison term and fined 3 million won.
After the salt farm closed last year, Jang was transferred to a nursing hospital in Gwangju. In July, the hospital sent mail to Jang’s immediate family asking for their consent regarding adult guardianship procedures. The family, who had believed Jang to be dead since his disappearance, rushed to bring him home. Jang was reunited with his family after 37 years.
However, it was reported that Jang’s condition was extremely serious. After decades of slave-like labor at the salt farm, he had lost all his toenails and teeth, and there was no part of his body that was unharmed.
There were opportunities for Jang to be rescued, but they were not properly realized.
In 2014, salt farm owner A was investigated by the police for luring and exploiting another intellectually disabled individual, identified as B. At that time, the police reportedly recognized Jang as a victim as well. Jang was temporarily moved to a protective facility, but due to an inability to verify his identity, he was sent back to the salt farm. When the issue resurfaced around 2023, the police again attempted to separate Jang from the farm, but as an adult, Jang refused, and the second opportunity for rescue was lost.
A Jeonnam Provincial Police official explained, "The officer in charge at the time checked the records and contacted the victim's family (his younger brother) whose mobile phone number was listed, but the call was disconnected. We also sent a text message explaining the situation, but received no response, so we could not make further contact. After confirming Jang’s disability, we repeatedly tried to persuade him to receive medical treatment at a hospital, but he adamantly refused, as well as refusing to be moved to a protective facility. There was no legal basis to move the victim to a protective facility against his will, so we were unable to separate him."
The official added, "The Jeonnam Provincial Police investigated the salt farm owner, A, on charges of quasi-fraud (unauthorized withdrawal from Jang’s salary account) and even applied for an arrest warrant. However, the prosecution did not request the warrant, so the case was forwarded to the prosecution without detention (on June 13 last year), and the case is currently being processed by the prosecution."
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