B Under Exit Ban for Assault; Labor Law Violation Allegations Spread

Mr. B, the owner of a manufacturing firm in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, is under police investigation for allegedly causing severe injuries to Mr. A, a migrant worker from Thailand, by spraying high-pressure air from an air gun. B is accused of pressing an air gun against parts of A's body and discharging high-pressure air on February 20 during work hours. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency's Major Crimes Unit has registered B as a suspect on assault charges and issued a travel ban.

The allegations surrounding the case extend beyond physical harm. Lawyer Cho Young-kwan (Law Firm Deoksu), representing the victim, stated, "Although A worked for over four years, he received no wages or severance pay as of the accident in February." It was confirmed that A was not directly employed by the plating company but worked through a staffing agency. Lawyer Cho pointed out, "Dispatch is impossible in manufacturing, and after two years, a direct employment relationship is established, meaning A is indeed an employee of that workplace."

Allegations of concealing industrial accidents have also surfaced. Hospital medical records from the time reportedly state, "Admitted with abdominal pain and anal bleeding due to playing with an air gun." The victim's side claims the owner obstructed appropriate treatment and urged the worker to return home after the incident. Lawyer Cho explained, "While A was trying to borrow money for surgery from fellow Thai nationals, an interpreter learned of the situation and contacted me on the 4th. I deemed it unreasonable for the victim to be seeking surgical funds himself, so I proceeded with filing for industrial accident compensation and making the case public."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor launched a joint inspection of the business site the previous day, investigating potential violations of labor laws, including assault, workplace harassment, and wage arrears.