By Kang Hyun-kyung
Marriage brokers linking Korean men with spouses from other Asian countries will be required to have more than 100 million won in paid-in capital from next month, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday.
If they fail to meet the minimum requirement, the authorities will revoke their business licenses from Aug. 2.
According to the revised Law on Marriage Brokers, existing interracial marriage brokers should register detailed information of their asset, including real estate, cash and other properties with district offices by Aug. 1.
The stronger requirements are part of steps to protect people seeking interracial marriages through brokers from fraud.
The government has sought to strengthen the qualifications of marriage brokers as some Koreans and their foreign spouses have fallen victim to marriage fraud.
International marriages account for approximately 10 percent of total marriages annually. In 2010, the National Police Agency cracked down on 750 illegal brokers.
Police said not only foreign brides but also Korean men were victims of marriage fraud as men didn't get accurate information about their spouses, such as their health and marital status, before getting married.
Marriage brokers linking Korean men with spouses from other Asian countries will be required to have more than 100 million won in paid-in capital from next month, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday.
If they fail to meet the minimum requirement, the authorities will revoke their business licenses from Aug. 2.
According to the revised Law on Marriage Brokers, existing interracial marriage brokers should register detailed information of their asset, including real estate, cash and other properties with district offices by Aug. 1.
The stronger requirements are part of steps to protect people seeking interracial marriages through brokers from fraud.
The government has sought to strengthen the qualifications of marriage brokers as some Koreans and their foreign spouses have fallen victim to marriage fraud.
International marriages account for approximately 10 percent of total marriages annually. In 2010, the National Police Agency cracked down on 750 illegal brokers.
Police said not only foreign brides but also Korean men were victims of marriage fraud as men didn't get accurate information about their spouses, such as their health and marital status, before getting married.
