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

[davidpdx]

(Cross-posted from GD)

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.

[Jesus Malverde]

1. wow!

I see a lot of disabled here in Japan, but I would not be surprised to see this also in the hinterlands of Japan.

[davidpdx]

3. It would be interesting to know whether there are in Japan

Since you are living there it might be worth doing a web search and then talking to some journalists that cover those issues. I have no idea how disabled are treated there, but if it's anything like here people need to know. There seems to be a great amount of shame when it comes to the disabled in Asia.

China has been growing fast for decades and they put up for adoption disabled children because no one wants to keep them.

I am very much interested in human rights issues. I sent a request to the Admins asking for a human rights group. My guess is they are going to say no for the sheer reason that it's going to be spammed by people with differing opinions on issues like Israel and Palestine which will ruin it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I would love to know more of your living in So. Korea.

If that is not being too nosy.

I am always interested in how people in other areas view what is going on here in USA
and in what important things are going on in other places that we are not likely to hear about here, your post is a perfect example.

[Expat in Korea]

4. The disabled are more visible now than in '96.

When I got here, the only disabled people you'd see were beggars in the streets. There were no TV programs to feature them or their struggles, like there is now. I've had disabled people in my university classes, but not often. Building have access ramps, special toilets and other facilities for the disabled now. If you're ever in the subway system, you can see raised tiles for the blind to use to navigate. I'm just saying this to show that things are improving, even though they are still far from ideal.

The story in the OP is a tragedy. I hope this sort of thing is isolated and the perpetrators are held up as an example.

[davidpdx]

5. I have noticed seeing more and more disabled people

I've seen some of the programs on TV as well. It's a good sign that they are being treated better. I personally think the people involved should get life in prison without the possibility of parole.