On the Severe Injury of a Migrant Worker Caused by an Air Gun in Hwaseong
- Urgent Need for Measures to Eradicate Workplace Human Rights Violations Exploiting Status Instability -
□ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho; hereinafter "NHRCK") issues this statement regarding the recent incident at a manufacturing facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, where a Thai migrant worker sustained severe injuries after a business owner discharged high-pressure air from an air gun. The NHRCK views this as a grave violation of the safety and dignity of migrant workers in the industrial field.
□ The affected worker initially entered South Korea under the Employment Permit System (E-9). Following the expiration of their visa, the worker continued to work as an undocumented migrant through a staffing agency at the facility in question.
□ Allegations have been raised that the victim was denied sufficient medical treatment and was pressured to return to their home country even after sustaining severe injuries. This incident highlights how the instability of an undocumented migrant’s status can threaten their access to medical care, legal remedies, and overall safety.
□ The NHRCK acknowledges the positive steps taken by the Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor to launch investigations, as well as the Ministry of Justice’s stated intent to review measures for the victim’s protection and status stability. However, these actions must not remain one-time responses; they must lead to institutional reforms that ensure the victim’s substantial recovery and prevent the recurrence of similar cases.
□ In a 2025 statement, the NHRCK noted that undocumented migrant workers who suffer from unpaid wages often abandon their claims or leave the country due to the threat of being reported or deported by their employers. This demonstrates that status instability is not merely a matter of residency, but a human rights issue that limits labor rights, the right to health, and access to justice. Therefore, this incident should not be viewed as an isolated deviation at a single workplace, but as an opportunity to address the systemic reality where workplace abuses repeatedly exploit the vulnerable status of migrants.
□ Accordingly, the NHRCK urges investigative agencies and relevant ministries to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this case, including potential human rights violations, lack of safety measures, and medical neglect. We also call for enhanced inter-agency cooperation to provide the victim with medical and psychological support, status stability, and occupational accident compensation. Furthermore, a comprehensive prevention strategy must be established through improved working conditions and human rights education for migrant workers.
□ The NHRCK will continue to monitor the follow-up actions and institutional discussions led by relevant agencies. We remain committed to fulfilling our duty to protect the human rights of migrant workers and prevent the recurrence of similar violations.
April 9, 2026
Ahn Chang-ho
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
