Exclusive: "Please Help Me" — Horrific Signs of Abuse Found on Farm Worker

[Anchor]

Today, June 22, marks the first "Day for the Prevention of Abuse against Persons with Disabilities," officially designated by the government to eradicate such mistreatment. However, amid indifference from those around them, abuse against people with disabilities persists. We have covered a case in Gangwon Province where a person with an intellectual disability was exploited for over 50 years on a farm.

This is an exclusive report by G1 Broadcasting's Park Myung-won.

[Reporter]

A quiet, rural farm.

Recently, a man in his 60s, identified as A, who had been working here, was rescued by an agency for the advocacy of rights for persons with disabilities.

He was found with severe injuries, including a comminuted fracture of the leg and torn ligaments.

A is a person with a severe intellectual disability.

It is reported that he had been taken around by the farm owner and forced to work on the farm for over 50 years, starting from when he was a teenager.

[Villager B: It was so pitiful. Even when he couldn't use one of his legs properly, they made him work. It was truly heartbreaking.]

[Villager C: They boiled some chicken for him, and he just gobbled it up. He asked them to invite him over often, saying he loves meat but rarely gets to eat it. So, they boiled some pork for him, too.]

The advocacy agency believes the farm owner did not pay proper wages, exploited A's labor, and arbitrarily used his disability benefits and other government subsidies.

A is also reported to have testified to the abuse, stating that he "worked without receiving pay" and "had never seen his bankbook for government benefits."

The farm owner claims that he began taking care of A when he was young because A had a disability and nowhere else to go, maintaining that they have lived together like family for over 50 years.

[Farm Owner: There was a family that couldn't even afford to feed him, so I was told to feed him, work with him, and keep him with me.]

The response from the local government is also sparking controversy.

Despite signs of abuse and exploitation, authorities failed to take appropriate measures.

[Official in Charge: It's different if you think of them as an ordinary person. I think it's not easy to take in and care for a person with a disability who has mental issues.]

Due to indifference from the community and passive administration, the victim, who was once a teenage boy, only received help after reaching his 60s.

Meanwhile, the advocacy agency plans to file a formal complaint with the police regarding the case soon.

(Video by Son Young-oh, G1 Broadcasting)

Reported by Park Myung-won, G1 Broadcasting
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.