Modern slavery of disabled people in South Korea | Unreported World 

Slave-owner: “He was asking for it!” Slave-owner literally 1 second later: “I didn’t do it!”

I grew up in korea and my parents used to scare me about kids getting kidnapped and used as slaves in salt mills, I guess they weren't lying...

The man at the beginning with the cute socks has a fantastic relationship with his sister. I’m so glad he has her.

Reporter: No pay = slavery. Slave owner: No, he was a volunteer.

Honestly, if a British reporter and his crew can find out where they are keeping all of the workers, then I believe that the Korean government isn't trying hard enough to help.

I feel so bad for that 50 year old man made a slave for 31+ years. You can see the sadness in his face. I hope he has a good life now.

At around 4:40 When she said “we’ve all been through a lot” the translation is quite wrong. She actually says, “he must have been through so much, its so horrible that I might hold grudges against this country”... i just wanted let you guys know how she actually explained it.

My uncle had a disability and was lost when he was young, so my family believed he was dead for many years. But they found him through the new government program of finding lost relatives through dna testing, and they learned he ran away from one of these slave like facilities where they abused him and used him for forced labor. Korea has a lot of shiny sides, but we need to remember that it only became a developed country very recently. And there are a lot of dark sides that came with that rapid development that need to be addressed and fixed

Im korean and I have speech disorder and it was very tough for me to go through the mandatory military service. I felt like they didnt treat me as a normal human but rather a really stupid human being with mental issues that they can play with just because I have speech disorder. It was one of the most hellish moments of my life. It was 9 years ago. And I try to recognize as something of a past and move on but watching this documentary made me feel that all the pain that I had was acknoledged. I feel strong resentment towards how korea is now also. Thanks for putting up this documentary

Bro you cannot call him brain damaged for liking childish things when he was a slave for 30 years. This guy is severly traumatized. His childhood is probably the only good memory he has.

seeing the main disabled mans face light up and talk about socks and his face when u brought up his lady made me so fucking happy something about that man makes my heart happy

The disabled guy is so lucky to have such a caring sister that wants to help him, it's so touching, Im happy that he's found someone to marry and I hope they will have a good marriage, Im sorry about what he went through :(

"I like things I like" The man speaks truth

"He looked like he was asking to beaten up. But I didn't beat him though." X. Doubt

"Did you beat him" ? "He seems like he needed a beating" Affirmative response.. He should be charged that old man and should pay for the 30 years he didn't pay.

The man at the beginning deserved so much better. He has kind eyes. He lost thirty years of his life, from when he was 19 to when he was around 50, to modern day slavery. I hope that all of the people still in his situation around the world will be freed and find peace.

“I don’t want to talk about that.”-slave owner

"This is the man probably beats disabled people, lets talk to him" "Here is where the traffickers work, we will try talk to them" This man has balls

What’s so heartbreaking is knowing that most of these people are SO sweet and trusting 😔 They don’t even know they deserve so much SO MUCH better. This is a sick and cruel world, with sick and cruel people.

As a Korean, this is the most shameful and darkest aspect of my country. The real problem is that local residents, as well as local law enforcements are not aware of the seriousness of the situation. The judge of the Gwangju High Court commuted the sentence of the owner of the salt farm, saying that this was a local practice. It is also shocking that some local police officers already knew about this modern slavery and was connected to the owner of the salt farm. I hope that a solution can be found to end this tragedy as soon as possible.

Heartbreaking to imagine 30 long years of life wasted by forced labour.....

This is the other side of South Korea that we don't see in Kdramas. People often think that the grass is greener in Korea. Well, there is no such thing as a perfect place in this world.

Anyone else find it surprising how slave owners always accuse their victims of being lazy?

저 사람들이 도망쳐서 경찰서에 신고하면 경찰들이 다시 잡아 원래 일하는 곳으로 보냅니다. 저 지역 자체가 염전주인과 경찰이 한 통속입니다.

He likes wearing "socks that a 3 year old would like". eXcUsE mE, I feel so attacked right now.

Reporter: Asks farmer if he enslaved this guy. Farmer: "Oh yeah, that's him!"

I love this reporter. He's not arrogant or judgemental like other reporters are. You can tell he cares, and it must be hard for him to leave each location after learning what he has and leaving those people behind in their predicaments.

이런거는 꼭 널리퍼져야한다 전세계가 다알려졋으면좋겟다

My husband is from S.Korea and talks about things like this happening, it's sad that so many people are unaware of this issue. Kpop fans think S.Korea is some sort of utopia when in all reality there are a lot of issues socially. Corporal punishment in schools, extremely low minimum wage, homophobia, slavery etc..and sadly not many laws to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions towards others.

i must say, as a korean born citizen, this doesnt surprise me. when i went to school for a few years just to visit what korea was like (came to US when 7 years old) during my middle school and high school years, we had many mentally ill students and they would be made fun of, beat up, and taken advantage of. im not going to lie, i was the only one protecting these student and have gotten into a lot of fights for them. none the less, i was singled out most of the time. South Korea just isnt a nice place for a handicap person to live.

disturbing to see how Korea has such a well developed economy yet disregards their citizens mental health and everything

The guy liking colourful socks made me cry. He's so sweet and he has such a caring sister, i wish him all the best.. I wish for the best resolve of this terrible and sad situation for all of the people involved.

God bless the sister for being there for him 30 years after he went missing. What a sweetheart for humoring him w/ fun socks :) Also - I don't understand - why do they talk about this place as if it's hidden and there's nothing that can be done? If a random white British dude can figure it out, can't the government move in and investigate? I don't understand what the barrier/challenge is...

The thing is that this man is clearly intelligent, he is clearly conscious enough to understand his feelings and the world around him which makes all of this much crueler

Nothing Wrong in liking cartoons even when you are 50

I was born in South Korea but was adopted when I was five months old. I have social anxiety, depression, and A.D.D. My birth certificate stated that my mother was about 25 years of age and my father was 42. I used to think that maybe that was normal, but as I got older, I started wondering if my mother might have been a rape victim. She was mentioned as "deaf and dumb".

The journalist risked his life for this story and I'm grateful he did. It's important that we know about it.

Mental health is taboo for some stupid reason in korea and I wouldn’t be surprise if parents were sending their disabled kids to the island.

how is the police not constantly checking the workers? the government has to do something about this! too many koreans ignore disabled people...it's so sad.

" 신안은 한국인들도 피합니다 " yes it's real.

I think there's more human trafficking in the world than we truly know about but it's great to see when people are rescued from it.

Very sad . He had a GOOD sister on his side

This is the side of Korea that kpop can't show you

I am currently living in Korea and was never aware of such story. Thank you for the insightful video. It is terrible to see what happened to these people that were literally kidnapped. hope that everything worked out properly and they are free from those people.

"He was a really bad man" "His eyes were very scary" Denial in it's purest form. Deep down, he knows what he did was wrong.

You are truly a journalist to be a role model in the society. Thanks a million. I've vaguely heard of this kind of incident via Korean media. Your report is objective and to the point. Thanks again.

As the sister of two disabled (my only siblings rly) brothers, I have to constantly look out for them. It's in America too, trust me. How many times have people tried to scam my older brother? Take his extra cash because he forgot to grab it and knew he wouldn't understand he was owed money back? Or my *6 year old little brother* who doesn't get even the freaking _basics_ of stranger danger. Sometimes, the human race is just disgusting. This is coming from a 12 year old, so humans must be doing something wrong.

I'm disabled mentally. People miss treat me because I can't understand how many things work. A job I've had never paid me on time so I quit.

As someone curently working with people living with disabilities, this breaks my heart.

“He’s got evil eyes”??? Wtf. He has the kindest eyes I’ve ever seen. These people are fucking evil.

imagine how many more victims are stuck on the island 😭

As a person with neurodiversity, I'm glad I can speak up for myself. But there are people on our spectrum that aren't coping. They should be treated with the same respect, you guys would treat anyone (regardless of their intellect)!

I live in the province of S. KOREA for almost 8 years and I don't know that slavery exist in korea. Thanks for this documentary. I always teach my child to never trust to anybody specially if she don't know that person.

The guy who runs the shelter for disabled is the salt of the earth.

They don't show you this in k - dramas

If those islands have had slavery that nobody knew about for decades, Squid Game suddenly doesn't seem all that far-fetched.

Any one hurts disabled people ,should be held accountable. JUSTICE

my god, the painful expression in his face makes you really understand just the smallest bit of what he must have went through. My heart goes out to him and his family. May they go on to live in peace

Wow. The stigma of mental health in S Korea and the lack of compassion, combined with the sin of greed, people taking advantage of others who cannot fight back because they’re mentally limited- it’s another eye opener. I’ve learned about Bangladesh and human trafficking, but this is also disheartening. This is why journalism is sooo so important!

I was born and raised in France, studied in Japan and currently living here in South Korea with my Korean wife, and I can honestly say South Korea is worse than Japan when it comes to racism, cults, sexual harassment, bullying and mental health issues. At the very least in Japan the people are just shy so you sometimes feel people is avoiding you but they're actually just shy about approaching foreigners. South Korea on the other hand, my twin kids got bullied, it really pisses me off so much, so we transfered them to a different school, then they got bullied 'again' for being a foreigner, for being different, so me and my wife transfered our twins to a different school the second time. I think South Korea is socially behind even though they have good economy, they have so many social issues cropping up altogether. My American friend who's having panic attacks and anxiety got the look of contempt from the nurses there, they still treat mental health issues as a a humiliation, or a thing to be ashamed of. Not to be racist but the people there still acts uneducated despite having a college degree. I swear after this pandemic we gonna move back to France.

I have two kids with autism and this makes me want to burn the whole world. Bless that guy who owned that shelter he was literally a shining light.

Ofc he likes colourful kids clothes are you kidding me!? It was probably the only thing to give him a smile

That's messed up. :(

The farm owner is like, "He was just a bad man who wouldnt do any work, therefore, i kept him on my farm against his will for 30 years, and paid him in wages which he simply never received". Makes perfect sense tbh!

This is extremely sad and horrid, but i must say, this is very good journalism.

I've lived here in S.K. for nearly 3 years and it has become abundantly clear to me that 99% of the population could not care less about the disabled....it's a very competitive society so anyone who is viewed as not being able to work as hard or fast or as much as the average person isn't even given a second glance. On top of this slavery thing they have going on, most homeless people physically and/or mentally disabled, so it's easy for people to target them and try to take advantage since their only other option is to continue living on the streets. The Korean government does not give a single shit about the disabled, and if anything they make sure the system is kept against them. I'm hoping the new generation will open their eyes to the inhumanity of how they're treating their disabled but from what I've seen it doesn't look like things will change much if it all any time soon....

When his sister saw his missing teeth...man...not even wild animals can torture another the way human beings can

당신네 영국인들과 유럽 국가들은은 산업혁명을 거치며 노동권과 노조에 대한 개념을 확립했지만 조선은 인구절반을 노비로 부리던 나라이며 21세기인 지금도 한국인들은 그 봉건적인 사고에서 벗어나지 못하고 노조를 혐오한다. 노동권을 국가가 엄격히 보장한다면 이런 일이 일어날 이유가 없다. 한국이란 나라자체가 야만적인 것이다.

That old sneaky farm owner is lying! He looks the abusive type.

As a Korean this is very disconcerting, including the fact that I've gone all my life ignorant to this. It may be an effort to protect this image of a developed country that Korea has spent so long trying to foster but we can't really claim to be developed when slavery still exists. So much has changed yet a lot remains ignored or forgotten about.

I love the love she has for her brother: Unconditional 😞

So sad cause all of these “disable” people seem so capable and smart

Very well done video. Respectfully presenting the needs of the disabled.

Korean culture and societal norms seem to ignore the poor, poor elderly and poor disabled people. Their culture hold individual accomplishments, wealth and success only. Korea has the highest suicidal rate in the world too. Maybe it will change someday for the better. ☹️

In fact, talking about this issue is a big taboo in South Korea. These slave owners have a close relationship with local law enforcements and even politicians. 73 out of 300 Congressmen in South Korea are from Jeonlado province, where slavery issue is currently happening. Their power is enormous enough to bury this whole slavery issue underground. In 2014, the slave labor case of Jeonlado province came up on the surface by a formal slave called Chae, who escaped from his salt mill and reached all the way to Seoul police department, hiding from the eyes of police officers from Jeonla Police Department who would send him back to his owner when he gets caught. During the interrogation, it turned out that this slave market is much bigger than expected, that even the Vice Chairman of the Local Congress owned one. However, the case got suddenly dismissed and there were no punishments given to slave owners or cops who cooperated to slave owners but a verbal warning without records. Meanwhile however, Inspector Seo, who rescued Chae and revealed this massive slavery issues of Jeonla Province, got demoted for no reason. This slavery issue is still going even right now. And these slaves are not just Koreans, but foreigners also. In Aug, 31st, Koreia Apolinario from East Timor escaped from Gaeya Island, Jeonla Province. n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/005/0001369277?lfrom=comment From 2014 to 2020, Apolinario had to work 15 hours a day for 6 years with no holiday or weekend break. He was physically trapped in an island by his owner. Only 2 meals provided for him a day, and one of them was just a chocolate moon pie. +UPDATE Oct 28. 2021, Another slave have been found from Shinan county, Jeonla Province, exactly from the same county where this slavery issue happened at 2014. This 50 yr old male with mental disability has been locked up for 7 years and worked 20 hours a day with no payment. Just like before, politicians and human rights organizations are not mentioning about this issue a word.

Man I understand Squid games better now. They have over 1,000 islands and only 80 occupied. And this is horrible what they did to these people.

I swear there are a lot of cruel human beings in this world.

my cousin has down syndrome and his parents left Korea to come to the US due to kids making fun of him. Korea is brutal when it comes to people with disabilities.. it needs to change.

As someone who lives in Seoul, this is the issue that keeps breaking my heart. The very obvious negligence of the elderly/poor/disabled (along with the overworking of the youth and exploiting labour). Coming from a welfare country like Sweden, and as someone who grew up living with my grandparents and knowing old people and their problems very well, it was a huge shock to me at first. I couldn't believe it. These are the people who need help the most. The thing people have to keep in mind, which they keep forgetting is that South Korea was at war not that long ago, and it wasn't long ago that they were also an underdeveloped country because of that and other various factors and reasons. They've had one of the fastest technological advancements in the world and when a country takes such big leaps all of a sudden, society and societal issues and problems tend to get overlooked or lag behind. People are just now starting to open up about mental health issues and actually admitting that mental illness is also a form of illness. When the country was going through rough times no one had time to check or complain about these things, so they're still catching up. And yes, it is immensely sad that old people - who have lived through the rougher times - still have to live a rough life, but hopefully, things are changing and will change even more soon. The very important, and very positive, part is that the new generation which is rising is much more understanding, caring and more inclusive when dealing with issues - and when they finally have the power a lot of things will change. That being said, thank you for this very enlightening documentary (I was actually unaware of this particular issue) and the interviewer did a fantastic job at relating to the problem and staying humble while talking to everyone.

I am a disabled Half Korean...I'm shocked at this cruelty and it saddens my heart and soul...😫😭..God Help Them All...🙏💗

I know this isn't the right comment, but his socks are awesome.

I’m so happy siblings like that exist. Really beautiful and touching.

Sorry to write this in here but would it be posible for you to do some investigation on people/child trafficking in Peru. It seems like the government does not care nor our own journalists. It is a sad and scary reality in which our population lives in.

im disabled myself and I cant even imagine the pain of these poor people. it absolutely breaks my heart

The traffickers as well as “masters” look genuinely shocked that anyone would consider what they’re doing to be wrong. They look like they’ve justified it in their minds.

My sister-in-law is fascinated with Korean Society especially when it's come to Korean dramas and K-POP unlike her I have been to Korea they are really a judgmental Society if you do not conform to the structure you are in the street or ignored by Korean Society. Evan they actors and pop stars are working like slaves if that doesn't tell you that there's something wrong I don't know what will.

you know its time to act when a british guy manages to make a documentary on it

제가 작년에전라도에 놀러가서팬션에서지내고있는데 옆방에서소곤소곤하는소리가들리길래자세히들어봤더니"아따오늘우리슨상님을부활시켜야되니께옆방에있는놈을제물로바쳐부르장께"라고하길래저는 깜짝놀래 팬션을뛰쳐나갈려는데 갑자기 팬션주인이저를붙잡으며"아따성님정들어서 보내기섭한디술이나한잔하고가부러"라고하길래저는 가야될일이생겼다고하자팬션주인의얼굴색이변하며"이보시오성님들제물이도망가려고허는디잡어부러야제"라고하며온주민들을 불러모아저를잡으려고하길래 저는뒤도안돌아보고있는힘껏빠져나왔습니다

I was almost in tears when the main guy's sister was describing his ordeal, and to find out he is engaged to be married to someone on the same spectrum as him, man I felt good seeing that smile from him, he deserves happiness.

5:08 "He is severely braindamaged , he watches cartoons and wearing colorful socks" Me as an adult who also does the same: :)

Oh my god this is actually so heartbreaking to watch. Ugh it’s terrible how humans can treat other humans like that, it’s really scary

This makes me so sad. So so sad. Look at how sweet he is, he's such a sweet guy but look at what happened to him! I'm crying,

As an elder sister to a differently abled brother this shattered me.

This report is so accurate. Modern day slave exist here.

“Once you are sold and you cannot escape “…. Very sad to hear from a disabled saying that. Yet he thinks those 2 ppl are like father & mom to him. Thats the highest manipulation of humanity.

Very sad, it is happening here too in the Philippines. I wish and pray that slavery in every kind of way would end. And please let's help each other. If we saw or notice that it is slavery please help them and ask help on good and reliable person.

I pray South Korea out a stop to this crap. Disabled people needs to be on our highest list to protect.

On islands off Korea's western and southern coasts, these human rights abuses have been known for decades. People who are imprisoned and forced to work include people with disabilities, debtors, and people without personal connections. They are also scammed or even kidnapped while trying to find work. In particular, the so-called 'salt farm slave' incident discovered in Shinan in 2014 had a great shock to Koreans. But in these isolated areas, cartels of sorts have formed, making crime very difficult to detect and investigate. Many people only use the salt farm slavery incident to denigrate the region, but show no fundamental efforts to solve the problem.

"He likes watching cartoons and wearing children's socks because of brain damage" *looks at my icon* *looks at my goofy socks* ... oh. Oh dear.

I feel so sad looking at him, his eyes, he has that thousand-yard stare with such an emptiness, brokenness inside ;(