Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Labor ministry vows to end ‘greenhouse dorms’ after ruling on migrant worker’s death
Activists hold a rally as they mark International Migrant Workers' Day near the presidential office in Seoul, Dec. 18, 2025. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has apologized to the family of a Cambodian migrant worker who died after living in a makeshift “greenhouse dormitory” and vowed to reinforce protections for foreign workers, following a Supreme Court ruling that found the government liable.
In a statement issued Thursday after the decision, the ministry said it respects the ruling of the Supreme Court and promised to help swiftly proceed with compensation procedures for the bereaved family of Nuon Sokkheng.
Earlier that day, Supreme Court justices upheld the verdict of a lower court, which ordered the government to pay 10 million won ($7,000) to each of her parents after recognizing its failure in properly overseeing the living conditions of her workplace.
Sokkheng entered Korea as a migrant worker and was staying in a makeshift vinyl greenhouse structure used as her accommodation near a vegetable farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The 30-year-old was found dead in the structure on Dec. 20, 2020, as temperatures plummeted far below freezing.
The police autopsy found that she died from complications related to liver cirrhosis. The poor living conditions were cited as a factor that worsened her health.
The ministry said it will do its utmost to prevent any recurrence of such tragedies, adding it will intensify inspections so that foreign workers do not end up living in substandard dwellings.
“We will push to revise the law so that employers cannot use illegal temporary structures as accommodation for foreign workers, and at the same time, we will strengthen support for improving such illegal or deteriorated housing through a newly established program this year,” the ministry said.