More on Minu's deportation; Stealing from deportees

Update:

NoCut News interviews him by phone, where he notes that, after 18 years away, he notes that he doesn't have many friends in Nepal, but has lots in Korea.

Original Post:

The Korea Times reports on Minu's Deportation and elaborates more on his accomplishments.

Minu first came to Korea on a tourist's visa. He worked at restaurants and had spoken up for his fellow migrant workers' rights. He is one of the founding members of the Migrant Workers' Television (MWTV) and has disclosed social prejudice and discrimination against foreign workers here as a video journalist. He received the first-place culture minister's award in a writing contest for foreigners sponsored by state-run television network KBS. He has also lectured at numerous universities and corporations to raise awareness for expats here, especially visiting here under the employment permit system or without any legal visa.

Also:

However, the Lawyers for Democratic Society claimed that Minu was deported after an appeal against his arrest was filed. "The authorities didn't send a notice to his lawyers, which is clearly against the constitution," the liberal lawyers' group said.

It also notes that "The Migrant Trade Union also criticized the government for targeting Minu out of political interest." As I said in my last post about his deportation, immigration cannot make exceptions, only examples, and this is confirmed by their response:

"His deportation was to set an example of principle: abide by the rules," the ministry said in a press release.

I could say I'm disappointed, but I really don't have high expectations for a ministry that invites hate groups to make immigration policy.

I also hope this didn't happen to Minu:

Employees of a travel agency were apprehended for stealing goods from bags of deported foreigners. The Incheon Gyeyang Police Station booked two staffers, including a 19-year-old identified as Lee, from a tour agency for larceny and indicted three others without physical detention on the same charges, Sunday.

The agency oversees departure procedures of expelled foreigners by proxy. The staffers rummaged through the luggage of deported foreigners at the checkroom of Incheon International Airport and pilfered small goods such as jewelry. They stole a golden ring from an illegal Chinese person in March and committed 87 more thefts up to September. The total value of goods stolen was 91 million won ($77,000). Police said they stole items from deported foreigners because the victims usually do not realize the theft immediately and cannot file a robbery report after they are expelled from Korea.

That's just low. Eighty eight thefts? As if deportation wasn't a bad enough experience already, the people the Korean government have charged with overseeing the procedure steal from those being deported? I'd hope an apology is offered by those in charge, but I imagine I'll be disappointed.