416 Illegal Immigrants Voluntarily Report Themselves Online in Two Days

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] More than 400 foreigners voluntarily reported their illegal stay online within two days of the implementation of the illegal stay online reporting system in order to return to their home countries.

The Ministry of Justice announced on the 13th that 416 foreigners who were illegally staying voluntarily reported online over the two days from the 11th to the previous day.

The online voluntary reporting system was introduced to encourage illegal stay foreigners to voluntarily leave the country while shortening their movement routes to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Foreigners illegally staying can report online (HiKorea) up to three days before departure without visiting government offices and undergo inspection at airport or port offices on the day of departure. If there are no special issues such as criminal warrants, they can leave immediately.

The Ministry of Justice plans to exempt illegal stay foreigners who voluntarily leave the country by the end of June from fines and entry bans, and after a certain period following departure, provide opportunities to re-enter with a short-term visit visa (C-3).

However, to prevent the influx of new illegal stay foreigners, those who became illegally staying foreigners after the 1st of last month will be fined even if they voluntarily leave. If they do not pay, they will face up to a 10-year entry ban.

The Ministry of Justice imposed fines of 38.9 million won on 40 newly illegal stay foreigners who voluntarily left by the 11th, and 28 million won on 7 people caught by crackdowns.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.