Indian detainee alleges duct-tape choking by Korean immigration officers during deportation

On Aug. 27, an Indian national who had been detained for roughly eight months at the Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province alleges that Korean immigration officers used unlawful force during his deportation. After being told he would be transferred for safety, he received documents rejecting his temporary release request and was escorted to the airport, where officers sealed his mouth with duct tape, covered his head with a ski mask, and reportedly slapped and choked him.

Body-camera footage released by Rep. Park Eun-jung of the Rebuilding Korea Party shows an officer restraining his neck while he repeatedly said he would not fight. The victim’s legal representative lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on Oct. 2. Park cited a prior court ruling that cable ties and packing tape lack legal basis, arguing duct tape is similarly unlawful. Acting Justice Minister Lee Jin-soo acknowledged that duct tape is not classified as an authorized restraint device and its use to forcibly deport someone was clearly wrong.