THE South Korean government plans to improve the human rights of foreign detainees at immigration detention centres and immigration waiting rooms at airports in the country.
Its Ministry of Justice said in a public notice that it was pushing for a partial revision of laws and regulations on the procedures for detaining undocumented immigrants in custody.
It said a commissioner will also be sent to inspect human rights conditions at the facilities.
According to a Korea Times report, the plan comes after the ministry acknowledged last November that human rights violations by the immigration authorities have occurred.
That came after it was revealed that a Moroccan man in his 30s was subjected to inhumane treatment while being detained at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in March last year.
A video footage had gone viral, showing the detainee being hogtied and his head in a protective headgear bound with box tape and cable ties.
The video drew fierce criticisms and the ministry then promised to improve the detention system.
In the public notice, the ministry removed rope from the list of protective equipment used at immigration detention centres.
It has instead added ankle guards, protective guards and protective chairs, with an aim to treat detainees more humanely.
It has also tightened the conditions on when these items can be used.
The Times report said they should not be used in any disciplinary action and the use of force is only allowed in urgent situations when there was no time to seek permission from the centre's chief.
The duration of custody has also been set at a maximum of 72 hours. Custody can be extended once before the term expires, and detainees cannot be taken into custody again until 24 hours have passed since the end of the previous detention.
International airport waiting rooms have also been criticised for overcrowding and lack of food. International travellers are detained here if they are denied entry into South Korea over ambiguous reasons for entry.
The revised legislation also requires airport immigration centre officials to provide foreign detainees with bedding and personal hygiene items, as well as three meals a day and drinks.
They are needed to take into consideration their dietary needs and culture, for each day that they have to spend in such waiting rooms.