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Three years ago, MBC News brought to light the story of a young Myanmar man who died while fleeing an immigration crackdown and subsequently donated his organs to four Koreans.
Today, the court ruled that the government’s excessive crackdown was partially responsible for his death.
Reporter Yoon Soo-han brings us the details.
In August 2018:
“Hey, sit down! Sit down, you XXX”
While evading a crackdown on undocumented immigrants by the Ministry of Justice, 27-year-old Myanmar worker San Soti fell from a 7.5-meter-high construction site. He ultimately succumbed to a brain hemorrhage and passed away two weeks later, donating his organs to four Koreans.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea’s investigation revealed violations of regulations during the crackdown, yet the Ministry of Justice did not impose even minimal disciplinary action on those responsible.
Rejecting the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission, the Ministry chose to await the outcome of the legal proceedings.
After over three years of legal battles, the court recently ruled that the government bears some responsibility for Soti’s death.
The court criticized the crackdown officers for failing to establish a concrete safety plan despite being aware of the potential risks, not notifying the construction site manager in advance, and violating various regulations.
Furthermore, the court noted that the officers indiscriminately exercised force not only on undocumented immigrants but also on Korean workers and focused on additional crackdowns rather than addressing Soti’s accident.
[Kim Yong-jun / Representative for San Soti] “It is a significant ruling that underscores the government’s responsibility to uphold the human rights of foreigners, even during crackdowns, and to address the associated risks.”
However, considering the circumstances of Soti’s desperate attempt to escape, the government’s responsibility was limited to 10%.
The Ministry of Justice expressed “deep regret” once again and stated, “We will take more thorough measures to prevent safety accidents.”
Soti’s father, who returned to Myanmar after his son’s funeral, has lost contact during the first trial. His representatives have announced plans to contest the scope of the government’s responsibility in the appellate court.
Majung provides legal consultations for foreigners living in Korea who need legal assistance. Please contact us at the number below for more detailed consultations.
Three years ago, MBC News brought to light the story of a young Myanmar man who died while fleeing an immigration crackdown and subsequently donated his organs to four Koreans.
Today, the court ruled that the government’s excessive crackdown was partially responsible for his death.
Reporter Yoon Soo-han brings us the details.
In August 2018:
“Hey, sit down! Sit down, you XXX”
While evading a crackdown on undocumented immigrants by the Ministry of Justice, 27-year-old Myanmar worker San Soti fell from a 7.5-meter-high construction site. He ultimately succumbed to a brain hemorrhage and passed away two weeks later, donating his organs to four Koreans.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea’s investigation revealed violations of regulations during the crackdown, yet the Ministry of Justice did not impose even minimal disciplinary action on those responsible.
Rejecting the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission, the Ministry chose to await the outcome of the legal proceedings.
After over three years of legal battles, the court recently ruled that the government bears some responsibility for Soti’s death.
The court criticized the crackdown officers for failing to establish a concrete safety plan despite being aware of the potential risks, not notifying the construction site manager in advance, and violating various regulations.
Furthermore, the court noted that the officers indiscriminately exercised force not only on undocumented immigrants but also on Korean workers and focused on additional crackdowns rather than addressing Soti’s accident.
[Kim Yong-jun / Representative for San Soti] “It is a significant ruling that underscores the government’s responsibility to uphold the human rights of foreigners, even during crackdowns, and to address the associated risks.”
However, considering the circumstances of Soti’s desperate attempt to escape, the government’s responsibility was limited to 10%.
The Ministry of Justice expressed “deep regret” once again and stated, “We will take more thorough measures to prevent safety accidents.”
Soti’s father, who returned to Myanmar after his son’s funeral, has lost contact during the first trial. His representatives have announced plans to contest the scope of the government’s responsibility in the appellate court.
Majung provides legal consultations for foreigners living in Korea who need legal assistance. Please contact us at the number below for more detailed consultations.
- Majung Law Firm Foreigner Center: 02-3143-1158
- Online Consultation: https://majungforeign.kr/contact/?lang=en
