South Koreans held as slaves for as long as 20 years sue government over ordeal
More than 60 slaves, most of them mentally ill, were rescued last year
PUBLISHED : Friday, 13 November, 2015, 4:32pm
UPDATED : Friday, 13 November, 2015, 4:32pm
Associated Press in Seoul
A salt farm owner walks around his salt farm on Sinui Island, South Korea. Photo: AP
Eight men who had been held as slaves at South Korean salt farms for several years took the government to court on Friday for alleged negligence and police inaction they say largely caused and prolonged their ordeal.
In the lawsuit filed at the Seoul Central District Court, lawyers sought a compensation of 30 million won (HK$200,000) for each of the men from the central government and two island counties, where the farms were located. The plaintiffs have different levels of disabilities, and were enslaved at the rural islands off South Korea's southwest coast for as many as 20 years.
More than 60 slaves, most of them mentally ill, were rescued from the islands following an investigation led by mainland police early last year. The slavery was revealed weeks earlier when two police officers from Seoul came to Sinui Island and rescued one of the slaves who had been reported by his family as missing.
Dozens of farm owners and job brokers were indicted, but no regional police or officials were punished despite multiple interviews in which the victims said some knew about the slaves and even stopped escape attempts.
The disturbing cases of abuse, captivity and human trafficking were highlighted in a months-long investigation, which showed that slavery has long thrived in the islands and will likely continue to do so without stronger government attempts to stem it.
Choi Jung Kyu, one of several lawyers behind the lawsuit, said he was expecting an uphill battle in court as compensation suits against the government in human rights abuse cases are rarely successful in South Korea. This is mainly because, he said, the South Korean law puts the burden of proof entirely on the plaintiffs in non-criminal cases.
“It’s difficult because we are mainly relying on what our plaintiffs told us, while the defendant, which is the government, holds all the information to prove it and can't be forced to give them up,” Choi said.
Regardless of the outcome, the lawsuit is meaningful because it would raise awareness and put pressure on the government to do more to protect vulnerable people from human trafficking and slavery, he said.
Seoul's Justice Ministry, whose minister will legally represent the central government in the case, had no immediate comment.
