Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Voluntary departure: Re-entry to be allowed for illegal aliens who leave Korea by June
The government said it will permit illegal aliens to re-enter Korea if they voluntarily leave the country by next June. Gettyimagesbank
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
The Ministry of Justice said Tuesday it will allow illegal aliens to re-enter Korea if they voluntarily leave the country by next June.
In an effort to tackle the rapid increase in foreigners who stay here illegally, the ministry also said it will toughen punishment for those hiring people who do not have the proper visas.
From July, people who are caught staying here illegally will be fined and may not be able to re-enter the country for years, the ministry said.
Departure can be delayed under certain circumstances, including recent births, pregnancy or other health conditions, it said.