South Korea is assessing the possibility of providing support to a Thai worker injured in an incident involving his employer at a Hwaseong factory. The worker remains hospitalized following an air gun injury allegedly caused by the employer. Despite his undocumented status, the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service is examining if he qualifies for assistance, affirming commitment to equal treatment under industrial accident claims.
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The incident occurred on February 20 when the unnamed Thai worker, who overstayed in South Korea after his visa expired in July 2020, was injured. Surgery was performed on February 21 at Osan Hankook Hospital in Suwon. The situation has garnered significant attention, with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung terming violence against migrant workers as "intolerable."
Authorities have imposed a travel ban on the employer as police proceed with investigations. The employer, in his 60s, has denied allegations of pressuring the worker to leave the country and claims the incident was not intentional. The South Korean Justice Ministry aims to ensure the worker is not deported to facilitate the investigation, while a factory inspection by the Ministry of Employment and Labour is underway.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Bangkok Post · 10 Apr 2026
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