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| This June 1, 2018, file photo shows Yangyang International Airport. More than 150 foreign visitors who entered Korea via the airport under a visa waiver program over the past six months have "gone missing," raising concerns that the program may be exploited by those seeking to work here illegally. Newsis |
By Jung Min-ho
More than 150 foreign visitors who entered Korea via Yangyang International Airport under a visa waiver program over the past six months have "gone missing," raising concerns that the waiver may be exploited by those seeking to work here illegally.
Documents from the Ministry of Justice obtained by Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the ruling People Power Party showed Sunday that 107 Vietnamese, 31 Filipinos and 15 Mongolians have fallen out of contact after arriving here through the program, which has been running since last June for the three countries as well as Indonesia.
The immigration office under the ministry said it has so far caught three people ― two Vietnamese and one Filipino ― for overstaying the authorized period of 15 days.
The ministry said it is seeking to stop working with the travel agencies that are responsible for many of the missing travelers. To reduce the number of such cases, the ministry also said it will, in cooperation with Gangwon officials and travel companies, strengthen screening processes before and after departure.
The program was aimed at boosting tourism in Gangwon Province, a region famous for its natural scenery. It will end on May 31; authorities will decide whether to extend it after reviewing how successful it has been.
The lawmaker said the program should not be exploited as an easy path into Korea for those seeking to work here without going through the proper procedures.
Undocumented foreigners
His message comes when the country is facing a challenging task of embracing more foreign workers and travelers while minimizing any problems that may follow. The government is under increasing pressure to come up with solutions for many issues emerging as a result of the falling birthrate such as labor shortages, as employers in many industries increasingly struggle to find workers.
According to ministry data, the number of undocumented foreigners has increased to more than 412,000 after reaching the 400,000 mark for the first time last September. Only 10 years ago, it was under 180,000.
With many industries calling for more foreign workers and the government responding with new visa policies, the number of foreigners ― and those who overstay visas ― is expected to continue to grow. The number of travelers in Korea is also expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels soon as the country is easing travel restrictions.
Just two days ago, the ministry announced a plan to expedite the visa process for foreign workers seeking to work in the shipbuilding industry from four months to one month. This decision comes amid concerns that the sector will face a significant labor shortage ― 14,000 workers ― this year with rising demand. Experts say many industries will face the same problem unless there are significant system changes to bring in more workers.
To address such concerns, the government is preparing to establish a new agency this year.
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