'A living hell' for slaves on remote South Korean islands

[davidpdx]

Slavery thrives on this chain of rural islands off South Korea's rugged southwest coast, nurtured by a long history of exploitation and the demands of trying to squeeze a living from the sea.

Five times during the last decade, revelations of slavery involving the disabled have emerged, each time generating national shame and outrage. Kim's case prompted a nationwide government probe over the course of several months last year. Officials searched more than 38,000 salt, fish and agricultural farms and disabled facilities and found more than 100 workers who had received no — or only scant — pay, and more than 100 who had been reported missing by their families.

Yet little has changed on the islands, according to a months-long investigation by the AP based on court and police documents and dozens of interviews with freed slaves, salt farmers, villagers and officials.

Although 50 island farm owners and regional job brokers were indicted, no local police or officials have faced punishment — and national police say none will, despite multiple interviews showing some knew about the slaves and even stopped escape attempts.

Slavery has been so pervasive that regional judges have shown leniency toward several perpetrators. In suspending the prison sentences of two farmers, a court said that "such criminal activities were tolerated as common practice by a large number of salt farms nearby."

http://news.yahoo.com/living-hell-slaves-remote-south-korean-islands-055240986.html

This is quite a lengthy article and I can't post enough to do it justice based on DU rules, so if you are interested please go to the link to read.

My thoughts:

I've lived in South Korea for 11 years and am frankly a little shocked, but not totally surprised. It seems as though the disabled are treated like an underclass in South Korea. Walking around I don't see many disabled people. That is because most of them are institutionalized and kept out of sight. Changing anything here takes time and patients unfortunately. Corruption is still a rather large problem in Korea and that is what allows this kind of thing to continue. My hope is that the two responsible rot in prison and their life is made a living hell just like they did to the disabled people.

[DonCoquixote]

1. You know the Koches

are looking at this and DROOLING, especially as it would be a de facto way to get the salvery the Neo confederates (aka those that never stopped fightign the civil war) want.

[davidpdx]

2. Bump