The NHRC recommended that the Incheon Immigration Office temporarily release a Korean-Chinese who had been in detention (12-10-2002)
The National Human Rights Commission recommended the chief of the Incheon Immigration Office to release temporarily a Korean-Chinese, Yeom (48) after investigating the complaint that Yeon had filed against the chief on August 27, 2002. This was the first time that the NHRC has recommended the responsible official to release temporarily the complainant who is in a detention house for foreigners.
Yeom, who had worked for a metal company named "B" in Siheung City, Kyungki Province, did not get his monthly salary of one million won in August, 2001. Yeom was visiting B Metal in order to receive an unpaid salary when he was beaten by the owner and his son to the extent that he lost two teeth. Although he reported to the Siheung Police Stantion, a policeman handed him over to the Incheon Immigration Office since he was an illegal foreign worker.
Finally, the Incheon Immigration Office ordered him to leave Korea (they call this "compulsory deportation"), according to paragraph 1 of Article 2 under the Immigration Management Act.
As a result of investigating this incident, the NHRC concluded that the decision of the Incheon Immigration Office was not illegal, because Yeom has been an illegal immigrant for the last 5 years-since April, 1997. However, the Immigration Office should postpone the deportation until Yeom has received compensation and a civil remedy for bodily harm.
Yeom had reported to the Ansan Police Station that he had lost his passport, during the voluntary reporting period for illegal foreign workers; however he was passed to the Incheon Immigration Office, before his passport had been reissued. Even though a minister Choi, Hwang Kyu as a securer requested the Immigration Office to hold his compulsory deportation twice, they had rejected both requests.
