Busan is becoming a stopover for human trafficking by fishing operations

In Busan, human trafficking is increasingly becoming a concern for fishing operations. A 32-year-old Indonesian man, Fajar, rappelled down a motel eighth floor in a bid for freedom, marking the first time a seafarer had been officially recognized as a victim of human trafficking in Korea since the 2023 law took effect. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family visited Busan to review the criminal probe on Fajar's confinement and hospitalization and found that his situation met the requirements for human trafficking.

Fajar was among 21 victims of labor exploitation this year, with an estimated 75 foreign victims and 16 domestic victims identified by Korea's government. The victims often sign contracts under the pretense of preventing desertion, leading to inhumane working conditions and abuses on deep-sea fishing vessels.