Home > National > Social Affairs

Filipino woman, Vietnamese man recognized by gov't as human trafficking victims

Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 14:03 Updated: 29 Apr. 2026, 19:20

Won Min-kyong, minister of gender equality and family, answers questions from lawmakers at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Nov. 4, 2025. [NEWS1]

A Filipino woman who was forced into prostitution after she came to Korea in October 2024 to pursue a singing career and a Vietnamese man who suffered unpaid wages and labor exploitation during field training after entering a vocational school in June 2023 have been officially recognized as victims of human trafficking by the government on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family ruled that the victims will be eligible for support, including living expenses, medical care, job assistance and legal aid during a case review committee meeting.

Human trafficking refers to acts involving the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring of individuals through means such as coercion or deception for the purpose of exploitation, including prostitution, sexual exploitation, forced labor and organ removal.

Since the law to prevent human trafficking took effect in 2023, a total of 72 victims have been officially recognized through the review committee. Out of the total recognized victims, 12 are Korean nationals and 60 are foreign nationals. By gender, 33 of them are men and 39 are women.

“Human trafficking is a serious crime that violates human dignity and freedom,” Minister Won Min-kyong stated. “We will work closely with relevant agencies to identify victims early and ensure thorough protection systems to support recovery and prevent recurrences.”

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 HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]