An Indian national formerly held at the Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, alleging that officers abused him while escorting him for forced removal. Video obtained by lawmaker Park Eun-jung reportedly shows the man handcuffed inside a transport vehicle with industrial-strength tape covering his mouth. Separate footage appears to show an officer gripping his neck during the journey.
- Escort date
- August 27, 2026
- Complaint filed
- October 2, 2026
- Reviewing body
- National Human Rights Commission
The man said he learned only on August 27, the day of his removal, that he would be escorted out of the country. According to his complaint, he requested interpretation and an explanation of the procedure and attempted to object, but those requests were not accepted. He submitted the complaint through legal counsel on October 2, arguing that the officers violated his physical liberty and human dignity.
Video evidence puts escort procedures under scrutiny
Reports based on detention-center CCTV and an officer's body camera also describe threatening language during the escort. An officer accompanying the man on the flight allegedly warned that he could be hit if he caused a disturbance, ordered him to stop speaking and then choked him. These allegations have not yet resulted in a final determination by the human rights commission.
The complaint seeks disciplinary action against the personnel involved and broader procedural changes. One requested measure is the continuous operation of body cameras during removal escorts, which would preserve a record of officers' conduct and the treatment of detainees. The available reporting does not establish whether body-camera recording was required throughout the entire escort under existing rules.
The Justice Ministry has already acknowledged that the conduct shown was improper. The vice justice minister described it as clearly wrong while answering questions during a parliamentary audit held before the reports were published. The next issues are whether the human rights commission confirms the alleged violations, whether disciplinary measures follow and whether escort procedures or recording requirements are revised.