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Police launch investigation into factory manager who allegedly assaulted foreign worker

Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 21:50

A police logo is seen on a uniform [JOONGANG ILBO]

Police have launched an investigation into a factory manager accused of physically assaulting a foreign worker repeatedly at a manufacturing plant in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi.

The Hwasung Seobu police precinct announced on Wednesday that a Korean factory manager has been booked on charges of assault and is under investigation.

The manager is accused of punching a Vietnamese worker in the face and repeatedly assaulting the worker, including at least 22 instances of headbutting, at a dormitory of a cosmetics container manufacturing company.

The worker suffered injuries, including a concussion. The two sides reportedly reached a private settlement after the worker received 600,000 won ($406) from the manager, including medical expenses. Police are also investigating whether the company exerted any coercion or pressure during the settlement process.

Police secured the victim’s identity and questioned the victim on Wednesday. The manager is expected to be summoned for further investigation into the case.

The victim has recovered from the injuries and is not believed to be suffering from lasting effects. The victim was confirmed to be residing legally in Korea.

“We are identifying the suspect and confirming his whereabouts,” a police official stated. “If he fails to comply with a summons or his whereabouts remain unclear, we plan to seek an arrest warrant and proceed with a compulsory investigation."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has also begun an on-site inspection. The Gyeonggi District Employment and Labor Office dispatched a six-member team to the company to verify the facts surrounding the assault and examine whether any labor laws were violated in connection with the incident.

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 JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]