Vietnamese International Student Group Caught Facilitating Issuance of False Bank Balance Certificates

Illegal Employment of Vietnamese Students as Entertainers While Operating Entertainment Establishments

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] A Vietnamese group forging balance certificates necessary to prove living expenses in Korea when applying for change or extension of stay status for international students residing in Korea has been caught.

The Gwangju Immigration Office announced on the 9th that it has sent four Vietnamese nationals, including Mr. A, who arranged for the issuance of false balance certificates and submission to immigration and foreign affairs offices, to the prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Immigration Control Act (submission of false documents).

Mr. A and others are suspected of transferring the required amount to student accounts for 11 months starting from February last year, obtaining deposit balance certificates on the day of transfer, and then receiving the principal along with a high interest rate of 365% per annum.

They posted advertisements on personal SNS supporting student loans and balance certificate issuance, recruited about 30 international students, and submitted the issued false balance certificates to the relevant immigration and foreign affairs offices, applying for extensions of stay as if their financial ability to cover living expenses was fulfilled.

It was also revealed that they illegally employed Vietnamese students, who could not work as entertainment hosts, at foreigner-only entertainment establishments by paying about 40,000 won per hour.

International students in Korea must submit deposit balance certificates as proof of financial ability when applying for change of stay status or extension of stay period. The source of funds for the student deposit balance certificates is principally from parents or family abroad, and in exceptional cases where funds are sourced domestically, it is only recognized if the circumstances are clear.

The Gwangju Immigration Office stated, "We believe there are quite a few cases where international students who do not have financial ability submitted falsely issued deposit balance certificates, and we plan to expand related investigations."

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