By Kim Bo-eun
Major conglomerates stated Friday they are not involved in human rights issues relating to China's Uyghur minority centered in the region of Xianjiang. Their remarks came after the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) requested Korean companies clarify their transactions with China-based firms employing forced labor by the ethnic minority.
In a recently unveiled letter to the Korean government, the OHCHR stated companies such as Samsung, LG Electronics, LG Display, Hazzys and Fila are possibly involved in human rights violations through supply chains in China and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The body separately reached out to the companies in March for their responses to the allegations.
"We express our grave concern that the rights of minority workers from the Xianjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, especially Uyghur, are not upheld in line with international human rights and labor rights standards," the letter said.
"We are concerned that these workers who are allegedly forcefully relocated across the country are subjected to forced labor."
With regard to the allegations, LG stated its main electronics unit is not being supplied by any vendors in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The OHCHR stated LG Display had two vendors in question, but the display maker stated it had no transactions with one of the two companies, while deals with the remaining other came to an end in 2020.
Samsung also refuted the allegations but declined to provide further details. "Samsung as a global company is adhering to international standards and we continue to monitor supply chains for possible issues," a Samsung Electronics official said Friday.
"We do not understand why the letter to the government was unveiled at this point, given we already responded last month to the OHCHR regarding their inquiry," an official of one of the mentioned companies said.
But there is a possibility that the companies are involved with human rights violations given allegations that foreign entities sourcing from factories in China are unable to access these factories for proper oversight and due diligence, due to what is seen as the influence of Chinese authorities.
The U.N. body sent out the same letters to 14 countries, requesting governments to look into business' possible involvement with the Xinjiang Uyghur human rights issue.
Regarding the issue, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, "The government provided explanations of our efforts regarding law and policy to ensure the protection of human rights by our companies."
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In a recently unveiled letter to the Korean government, the OHCHR stated companies such as Samsung, LG Electronics, LG Display, Hazzys and Fila are possibly involved in human rights violations through supply chains in China and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The body separately reached out to the companies in March for their responses to the allegations.
"We express our grave concern that the rights of minority workers from the Xianjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, especially Uyghur, are not upheld in line with international human rights and labor rights standards," the letter said.
"We are concerned that these workers who are allegedly forcefully relocated across the country are subjected to forced labor."
With regard to the allegations, LG stated its main electronics unit is not being supplied by any vendors in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The OHCHR stated LG Display had two vendors in question, but the display maker stated it had no transactions with one of the two companies, while deals with the remaining other came to an end in 2020.
Samsung also refuted the allegations but declined to provide further details. "Samsung as a global company is adhering to international standards and we continue to monitor supply chains for possible issues," a Samsung Electronics official said Friday.
"We do not understand why the letter to the government was unveiled at this point, given we already responded last month to the OHCHR regarding their inquiry," an official of one of the mentioned companies said.
But there is a possibility that the companies are involved with human rights violations given allegations that foreign entities sourcing from factories in China are unable to access these factories for proper oversight and due diligence, due to what is seen as the influence of Chinese authorities.
The U.N. body sent out the same letters to 14 countries, requesting governments to look into business' possible involvement with the Xinjiang Uyghur human rights issue.
Regarding the issue, the foreign ministry said on Thursday, "The government provided explanations of our efforts regarding law and policy to ensure the protection of human rights by our companies."
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