Comments on: You hate to see things like this

By: The Marmot

The Marmot — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:15:02 +0000

Regardless of one’s views on illegal immigration (I certainly don’t condone it, but then again, I don’t condone South Korea’s irrational immigration laws, either), the legal sojourn status of many 3D workers in Korea does not justify the kind of abuse that some of them suffer. And to be frank, it was thanks to their labor that many small and mid-sized factories in Korea were able to pull through the tough times after 1997; certainly, given their contributions to this society, they deserve a lot better than to be rounded up and deported.

By: mountaindew

mountaindew — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 22:48:16 +0000

Every nation has the right to guard it’s borders and protect it’s citizens from foreign invasion. Regardless of how that invasion is carried out; either by war or sneaky infiltration. Those that hire illegal labor should be punished too.

By: ari(w)rong

ari(w)rong — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 21:38:32 +0000

We don’t kick out illegal immigrants because all the cheap Mexican migrant farm labor means that we get our apples real cheap at the supermarket (which I’m all for). Koreans can blow me on this issue cause they are the first ones to scream bloody murder about how Korean illegal immigrants are being treated in the U.S. after 9/11. Finally I agree with USinKorea, you don’t like illegal immigrants then don’t hire them. Someone being an illegal immigrant is not a justification for hiring them and treating them inhumanely.

By: usinkorea

usinkorea — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 18:35:06 +0000

Two wrongs don’t make a right. I don’t favor giving legal breaks to illegal immigrants like is sometimes found in the US — like giving driver’s permits. I think some of the Chinese immigrants should be an exception, because some have been in Korea for a generation or more, but Korea’s closed citizenship rules screw them.

However, there is absoutely no excuse for the owners and managers who abuse the illegal immigrants. The, “what did they expect?” argument falls flat as a stone to me. There is no green light for abusing people.

By: Mac Pac

Mac Pac — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 17:29:43 +0000

These people are in a country illegally. What do they expect? I wish the USA would have the balls to expel their illegals too, but some Mexican would probably call it some form of racism. What the hell does the law matter anyway?! Just because things are shitty in your country and you can’t get a job, isn’t justification to for immigration; legal or illegal. Korea is doing the right thing of getting the foreigners out, especially the Moslem ones.

By: Plunge

Plunge — Mon, 22 Dec 2003 08:56:36 +0000

My bro-in-law and I have discussed this situation quite a bit. He owns a small trucking company in Korea and uses illegals as the “second person” in his trucks. They are to help with the loading and unloading, doing the dirty work and such. He provides shelter, food and clothing for them and, what I considered, an appallingly low wage. Yet, after meeting some of them, they consider him a true humanitarian because of what he provides. Also, and this is a big point for them, he treats them like human beings.

According to my bro-in-law, they are the hardest workers around.

Hearing some of their stories before they went to work for him cause me to cringe. Their working conditions and the way they are treated is abhorrent at best.