South Korea forced to act after Cambodian worker’s death in freezing greenhouse dorm

South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour has apologised 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 on 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 (US$7,000) to each of her parents after recognising its failure in properly overseeing the living conditions of her workplace.Sokheng entered South 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 December 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.