<Anchor>
Our panda team once told us about the suspicion that the exploitation of labor is still continuing in salt fields in Jeollanam-do.
However, it was confirmed that salt farm workers, who denied the fact of the damage when we visited in the past, have recently changed their statements.
Reporter Won Jong-jin tells the story of why the people who were working without getting paid properly and hiding the truth later revealed the truth.
<Reporter>
In January, although salt production was off, Park Young-geun's colleagues remained in the salt farm worker's dormitory with dirty toilets.
Reporters rushed to deny the fact of the damage.
[Damaged salt farm worker colleague (last January): No.
(salary) comes out every month.
There is nothing unfair, so please go quickly.]
I recently met two of the people who were brought out of the island for further investigation by the Jeollanam-do Province.
The statement has changed.
[Additionally rescued salt farm worker: What do you say that this doesn't work?
Hit them with a salt shovel or something like that, and hit them with a fist.
I have anxiety and always work.
I don't know when I'll hit it again.]
My account was managed by the salt farm owner and I worked there for about 10 years, but I confessed that I had very little money left in my hand.
[Additionally rescued salt farm worker: (I worked for 10 years, but there is nothing left in my account?) Yes.]
Why did he deny the fact of the damage in the first investigation conducted at the Jeungdo Police Box in November of last year?
[Additionally rescued salt farm worker: Even if I talk about it, if the boss or anyone finds out again...
Now I'm afraid of it again.
No matter what I say, it will.
'Talk to the owner directly']
He said that he suffered from the anxiety of being constantly monitored because he lived with the salt farm owner and stayed in a small local community for a long time.
[Additionally rescued salt farm worker: There are a few people who are sleeping with me, so even if I try to go, I can't get out.
In fear.]
Conciliation and pressure also had an effect in the psychological servitude of calling the salt farm owner as father and mother.
These workers also appear to have experienced the so-called 'Stockholm Syndrome', which victims of child abuse sometimes reveal.
[Yeomjeonju family: You guys have to write well.
You have to speak well.
As it is.]
[Extra rescued salt farm worker: (rosary) 'If you go, take the investigation straight away.
If you get the investigation wrong, you could be arrested
too.'
do.
[Additionally rescued salt farm worker: I thought of that as soon as I crossed the Jeungdo Bridge.
'Ah, this time, this time.'
'I go to the (Jeonnam) Prosecutor's Office and tell the truth, and I don't go into salt fields twice anymore.']
Jeollanam-do Province is in the process of registering people with disabilities who have expressed their intention to escape.
[Lee Hee-cheol / Director of Victim Protection of Jeonnam Police Agency: We will provide livelihood and housing support to the end in connection with other organizations so that those who have left do not go back.]
We are also expanding the investigation to see if there are any more victims of labor exploitation.
(Video coverage: Harung, Video editing: Yang Won, VJ: Junho Kim)
▶ [Sell till the end] 'exploitation of salt farms' repeats in the welfare hole for the disabled