Mokpo Coast Guard Conducts Special Crackdown on Human Rights Violations Against Maritime Workers

Aiming to Eradicate Human Rights Abuses Such as Crew Detention and Assault in Policing Blind Spots

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Im Jae-su) announced on the 18th that from the 17th of last month until the 11th of next month, it will conduct a special crackdown on human rights violations among maritime workers in the first half of the year.

The crackdown targets include extortion of advance payments from fishermen, abduction, enticement, confinement, assault, and wage extortion of disabled persons at island aquaculture farms and salt fields, verbal abuse and assault of junior crew members, ignoring demands for disembarkation of long-term fishing crew, or forced boarding.

Mokpo Maritime Police formed a special task force for this crackdown to collect cases of human rights abuses and damages against foreign workers from related organizations and plans to conduct inquiries and inspections in vulnerable areas.

In particular, the crackdown will focus on human rights violations against disabled persons and migrant workers, who are relatively vulnerable to exposure in human rights blind spots.

Last year, Mokpo Maritime Police arrested a total of 35 people in 23 cases, including embezzlement and extortion of advance payments, through a special crackdown on human rights violations.

A Mokpo Maritime Police official said, “Through this special crackdown, we will establish proper legal order by strictly investigating human rights violation cases against maritime workers, especially disabled and foreign crew members,” and added, “If you know of or witness any human rights abuses around you, please actively report them.”

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