Eight unregistered Koreans detained in Philippines

By Jung Min-ho

Eight unregistered Koreans have been detained in the Philippines as the nation's immigration office cracks downs on foreigners living there illegally.

According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wednesday, four Koreans have recently been detained for illegally staying in the Philippines and four others for illegally working.

After the issue came to the fore when a Korean resident in the Philippines posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website earlier this week, the ministry said it has urged the immigration office to treat Koreans fairly.

The petitioner called on the Korean government to better protect its citizens, claiming many immigration officials use the crackdown to extort money from Koreans.

“They are law-abiding people, with all the legal documents and visas,” the petitioner claimed. “Immigration officials haul them in anyway. They just don't listen … Many Koreans are being detained and I can't go out because of fear.”