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Factory manager under police investigation for allegedly routinely abusing migrant workers

Published: 28 Apr. 2026, 16:19

A Korean factory manager currently under investigation for allegedly assaulting a Bangladeshi worker at a textile plant in Incheon on Friday is accused of abusing other migrant workers, according to interviews and reports.

The allegations point to a pattern of violence and verbal harassment, which workers say they felt powerless to oppose out of fear that speaking out could cost them their jobs and their ability to remain in Korea.

The manager, who oversaw four Bangladeshi employees at the factory in Incheon’s Seo District, was initially accused of slapping one of them and violently pulling at their hair after the employee dodged his phone calls.

The worker said the most recent abuse began on Thursday night.

“The manager came to the workers’ dormitory drunk at around 11:40 p.m. and went on a rampage, tearing up my Korean-language study books,” he said. “I was scared, so I left and avoided picking up the phone when he rang. The next day, he told me that I was fired and then started hitting me.”

The victim said he had worked at the factory for three years, earning minimum wage.

Other employees described similar experiences.

“Whether we made mistakes or not, [the manager] would often kick us or grab us by the collar,” said one worker. “He would say things like, ‘Do you even have schools in Bangladesh?’ or ‘Do you have air conditioning in your country?’ He insulted us and even cursed our parents back home.”

Another employee claimed the abuse extended beyond physical violence.

“I can’t drink alcohol for religious reasons, but [the manager] often forced me to and swore at me,” the worker said. “It felt like he didn’t see us as human beings.”

The torn remnants of Korean-language study materials used by the Bangladeshi employee after his manager allegedly went on a drunken rampage through the workers' dormitory on April 23. This photo was provided by the employee to the JoongAng Ilbo. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Despite the alleged abuse, the workers hesitated to report it to the police or labor authorities.

“We were afraid that we would be fired or unable to find another job in Korea if we reported him,” one explained.

The case has since prompted a multiagency response.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has launched a special investigation, with a dedicated team from a local branch tasked with establishing the facts and implementing protective measures, including issuing smartwatches to victims.

Authorities said the probe would examine not only the assault allegations but also potential violations of workplace harassment rules and industrial safety laws.

Police have booked the manager on suspicion of assault and are continuing their investigation.

Separately, a task force under the Ministry of Justice’s immigration authority conducted an on-site inspection with local immigration officials and approved a request by the employee who first accused the manager of abuse to change his workplace.

Authorities are also considering imposing administrative sanctions against the manager, including restrictions on hiring foreign workers, depending on their findings.

Labor advocates say the case may point to broader irregularities.

“Our understanding is that the manager is the factory owner’s son and the plant appears to have brought in around 17 migrant workers through three or four brokers,” said Shekh Al Mamun, the vice chairman of a migrant workers’ union. “There are signs that indicate the law was possibly broken in the process of bringing in the workers, so a thorough inspection is needed.”

In a statement to the JoongAng Ilbo, the manager said that “there is no justification for violence under any circumstances,” adding he feels “ashamed and sorry” and “will cooperate fully with the investigation.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY BYUN MIN-CHUL [[email protected]]