World Immigration News

NHRC faults South Korea immigration raids for bypassing employer consent

Release Date: 2026-02-20
Media: CHOSUNBIZ
Summary: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ruled that conducting raids on undocumented foreign nationals without obtaining prior consent from the employer constitutes a human rights violation.

The case involved an immigration and foreigner office that carried out a crackdown at companies employing foreign workers without securing prior consent or ensuring adequate safety measures. A petition alleged that several foreign workers were injured during the raid, including a pregnant woman who was reportedly isolated in a raid vehicle and deported without receiving emergency medical care.

The immigration office claimed that the injuries occurred when workers fell while attempting to flee and stated that the pregnant woman received hospital treatment.

However, the NHRC found the operation unlawful due to the failure to follow due process. Under relevant guidelines, raid leaders must present identification, explain their affiliation and the purpose of the investigation, and obtain consent before checking a foreign national’s residency status.

The NHRC recommended that the head of the immigration office provide staff training to ensure compliance with due process requirements, including obtaining prior employer consent during crackdowns.
Tags: Korea

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