South Korean factory owner arrested for assaulting four foreign workers over three years

A factory owner in Incheon, South Korea, faces arrest for allegedly assaulting four foreign workers over a three-year period. The owner, identified only as "Mr. A," is accused of seven assaults between 2023 and 2026, including a recent incident where he allegedly beat a Bangladeshi worker, Rakibul Islam, after accusing him of not being in his dormitory.

Video footage of the assault, showing Mr. A confronting Islam and striking him, was widely circulated, prompting an investigation. However, Islam claims he was at the factory to turn off machinery as instructed by Mr. A when the owner caused a disturbance at the dormitory. The investigation initially focused on assault but expanded to include property damage, insult, and attempted coercion due to higher sentencing guidelines for labor law violations.

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Violence against workers is an unacceptable serious crime. We will respond even more strictly to human rights violations and workplace bullying against vulnerable foreign workers.

Prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Mr. A, with his side reportedly admitting to some charges while denying others. The Incheon Northern District Prosecutors' Office stated that violence against workers, particularly vulnerable foreign laborers, is an unacceptable crime and will be met with a firm response. This case highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment and human rights of foreign workers in South Korea.

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When Mr. A told me to turn off the machine, I went to the factory to do that work. During that time, Mr. A came to the dormitory and caused a disturbance.