South Korea is protesting a U.S. State Department report on human trafficking. The report grouped South Korea among countries which make insufficient efforts in preventing trafficking humans.
The South Korean Embassy in Washington filed the protest with the U.S. government Thursday. The embassy expressed regret at the negative portrayal of South Korea's internal situation, allegedly without confirmation, and demanded immediate revisions.
The report said more than 700 thousand people a year are caught and sold around the world for forced sex, labor, and other services.
The report divided countries into three categories according to seven criteria. One of them is whether national governments aggressively conduct investigations into human trafficking, properly protect victims, and adopt punitive measures.
The report put South Korea in the third category ... the lowest.