New Hotline for Reporting Human Rights Violations Increases Reports by Sixfold

The South Korean government has established a dedicated hotline for reporting human rights violations against foreigners, resulting in a more than sixfold increase in reports. The Ministry of Justice announced on July 5 that since May 27, the '1345 Foreign Comprehensive Guidance Center' has been operating a specific hotline for reporting human rights abuses, allowing foreign workers to report issues such as wage theft, assault, sexual harassment, passport confiscation, and forced labor more easily and quickly.

Previously, foreign workers faced challenges in reporting human rights violations, as they had to contact multiple agencies depending on the nature of their complaint. Now, by calling 1345 and pressing 1, they are immediately connected to a dedicated multilingual counselor for assistance.

In the month following the establishment of the dedicated hotline, the number of reports increased from an average of 22 per month to 142, marking a 6.4-fold rise.

The '1345 Call Center' was established on March 31, 2008, under the Foreigners Treatment Act to provide consultation services and living information in the native languages of foreigners residing in South Korea.

The new hotline aims to address the barriers faced by foreign workers, such as language difficulties and lack of information about reporting procedures, enabling them to seek help more promptly. It operates in 20 languages to assist vulnerable groups, including E-9 workers, seasonal workers (E-8), foreign entertainers (E-6), foreign sailors (E-10), and marriage migrants, in reporting human rights violations.

Additionally, for foreign workers who do not have a local phone number and find it difficult to make calls, a social media reporting channel is also available. Workers can report incidents via text, photos, or videos through a Facebook page that they frequently use.

Reports received will be linked to relevant agencies, including the immigrant rights protection officers at 19 immigration offices nationwide, the one-stop solution center for crime victims, village lawyers for foreigners (a total of 112 nationwide), local labor offices, and organizations that protect the rights of trafficking victims, ensuring that rights protection is effectively implemented.

Meanwhile, Cha Yong-ho, head of the Ministry of Justice's Immigration and Foreign Policy Bureau, visited the Foreign Comprehensive Guidance Center to review the operation of the human rights violation reporting system and assess the consultation process.

Cha Yong-ho emphasized during a meeting with counselors, "The 1345 Foreign Comprehensive Guidance Center is not just an information center but the first line of defense for protecting the rights and interests of foreign workers. I urge you to respond carefully and responsibly to the voices of foreign workers seeking help, from reporting violations to consultations and connections with relevant agencies."