Category: Korea

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 9, 2025 Number of comments0
Abuse Intellectual disabilities Korea Podcast

Suspicion of Forced Labour of Intellectually Disabled People in Korea’s Taepyeong Salt Fields Emerge [Podcast Episode]

Since 2014, suspicions of human trafficking and forced labor of intellectually disabled people have emerged in salt fields in Sinan-gun, including Taepyeong Salt Fields. In 2022, victims of forced labour in salt fields spoke to the media, saying things like “I ran away but was caught” and “I was beaten.” The US has imposed an import ban on solar salt products produced by a Korean company, citing “forced labour.” This is the first time that a foreign government has banned the import of a Korean company’s products for the reason that they were made using forced labour.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt April 8, 2025 1
Abuse Disability Korea

“Disabled people forced to work at Taepyeong Salt Fields in Korea” – US Imposes Import Ban

Since 2014, suspicions of human trafficking and forced labor of intellectually disabled people have emerged in salt fields in Sinan-gun, including Taepyeong Salt Fields. In 2022, victims of forced labor in salt fields spoke to the media, saying things like “I ran away but was caught” and “I was beaten.” The US has imposed an import ban on solar salt products produced by a Korean company, citing “forced labor.” This is the first time that a foreign government has banned the import of a Korean company’s products for the reason that they were made using forced labor.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 27, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Human Rights Immigration Japan Korea

Korean Daily Newspaper ‘The Hankyoreh’ Reports on Disability Activist’s Deportation from Japan

The Korean daily newspaper ‘The Hankyoreh’ – ‘The Korean People’ – reported on November 25th about disability activist Park Kyung-Seok being deported from Japan at Narita Airport. Go Na-rin writing for the ‘Hankyoreh’, reported on the 25th that Park Kyung-seok, the leader of the Korean Disabled People’s Solidarity Against Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) held a press conference in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Park displayed documents related to Japan’s “Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act,” which were cited by Japanese immigration officials when denying his entry. Park stated, “The immigration officer had all the materials about me, from composite sketches to the latest news articles.”

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 27, 2024 Number of comments0
Disability Human Rights Japan Korea Podcast

South Korean Disability Activist Park Kyung-Seok Deported at Narita [Podcast Episode]

On November 22nd, a Korean disability activist Park Kyung-Seok was deported from Japan after seven hours at Narita Airport, along with his two caregivers. The reason given for Park’s deportation was that in South Korea he has received a suspended sentence for violation of the Assemblies and Demonstrations Act in 2012 for attending an illegal demonstration in South Korea and that under Article 5, paragraph 1, paragraph 4 of the Japanese Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Park could be deported. However, Park had been allowed to enter Japan in 2016 and in May of this year, at the invitation of Amnesty International, according to Daisaku Seto of the ‘Anti-Poverty Network’.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt November 26, 2024 1
Disability Human Rights Immigration Japan Korea

Reasons Emerge for Korean Disability Activist Park Kyung-Seok’s Deportation at Narita

On November 22nd, a Korean disability activist Park Kyung-Seok was deported from Japan after seven hours at Narita Airport, along with his two caregivers. The reason given for Park’s deportation was that in South Korea he has received a suspended sentence for violation of the Assemblies and Demonstrations Act in 2012 for attending an illegal demonstration in South Korea and that under Article 5, paragraph 1, paragraph 4 of the Japanese Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Park could be deported. However, Park had been allowed to enter Japan in 2016 and in May of this year, at the invitation of Amnesty International, according to Daisaku Seto of the ‘Anti-Poverty Network’.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 22, 2023 1
Disability Japan Korea Podcast

Disability News Japan Podcast ‘Korea Edition’: Leader of Korean disability rights protests Park Kyoung-seok arrested on illegal demonstration charges

The leader of a disability rights advocacy group who led years long rush-hour subway protests was arrested Friday in Seoul on charges of illegal demonstrations.

Police apprehended Park Kyoung-seok, the 63-year-old leader of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD), for investigation in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency headquarters in central Seoul where he was holding a press conference.

by Michael Gillan Peckitt March 21, 2023 4
Disability Discrimination Korea

Leader of Korean disability rights protests, Park Kyoung-seok, arrested on illegal demonstration charges

The leader of a disability rights advocacy group who led years long rush-hour subway protests was arrested Friday on charges of illegal demonstrations.

Police apprehended Park Kyoung-seok, the 63-year-old leader of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD), for investigation in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency headquarters in central Seoul where he was holding a press conference.