Textile company owner faces arrest warrant for assaulting foreign workers

Police and labor authorities said Tuesday they have filed for a warrant for the arrest of a textile company owner accused of repeatedly assaulting foreign employees over the past three years.

The warrant application was filed Friday on suspicions of property damage and assault on employees in violation of the Labor Standards Act, according to the Incheon Seobu Police Station and the Jungbu Regional Office of Employment and Labor's branch office in Incheon, west of Seoul.

The owner is accused of assaulting four Bangladeshi workers on seven occasions between March 2023 and April at a textile factory he operates in Incheon's western district of Gajwa.

In particular, a video showing the owner attacking a worker in his 20s on April 24 sparked public outrage after it was reported by the media and circulated online. In the video, the owner is heard shouting at the worker, "What did you do yesterday?" and "What were you doing instead of answering the phone?" while repeatedly slapping him in the face and grabbing him by the hair.

The owner is also accused of damaging factory property and verbally abusing workers while assaulting foreign employees.

In response to the request from the police and labor office, prosecutors applied for an arrest warrant for the owner on Tuesday and his warrant hearing is scheduled for Thursday at the Incheon District Court.