"Using Fake Invitation Letters and Notarized Documents"… Gang Arrested for Illegally Bringing Foreigners into Korea

Four Forgery Book Dealers Arrested, One Detained
Two Local Brokers on Red Notice

A group involved in illegally bringing foreigners into the country using forged documents has been apprehended by the police.

Video of International Courier Shipment of Forged Documents
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

On the 24th, the Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they arrested four individuals responsible for document forgery who had been illegally bringing foreigners into the country by forging documents required for the issuance of short-term business visas. Among them, Mr. A (46) was detained on charges including forgery of public and private documents. The forged documents totaled 63 cases, of which 36 were issued and 27 were rejected.

The police also requested Interpol red notices for two local brokers residing in Pakistan and arrested 18 Pakistanis who had illegally entered the country on charges of violating the Immigration Control Act. Additionally, 11 Pakistanis who illegally entered the country and whose whereabouts are unknown have been placed on wanted lists. It was confirmed that the majority of the illegally entered foreigners were staying in the country through false refugee applications (20 refugee applicants, 3 illegal residents, and 6 others).

The illegally entered Pakistanis paid fees ranging from $10,000 to $13,000 to two local brokers in Pakistan from June 2022 to September this year to request the issuance of short-term visas. The local brokers, after receiving the fees, asked domestic document forgers to forge documents necessary for short-term visa issuance, such as company invitation letters and notarized certificates. The Pakistanis who received the forged documents obtained visas at four locations, including the Korean Embassy in Dubai, and illegally entered the country. The document forgers were found to have shipped the forged documents via international mail and collected fees of around $3,000. The illegally entered Pakistanis mainly worked at domestic manufacturing factories.

In March, the police received intelligence from the National Intelligence Service that foreigners were illegally entering the country by obtaining visas using forged documents and began an investigation. The group planned the crime targeting Pakistanis who wished to work in Korea but could not enter visa-free due to the suspension of the visa waiver agreement since January 2002. The number of invitees per company was limited to 3 to 4 people, and the formats of invitation letters and other documents were frequently changed. They also listed burner phone numbers as contact numbers for the invitees to evade confirmation calls from overseas diplomatic missions and avoid police investigations.

A representative of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "The group abused the refugee application system, which allows applicants to stay in the country for several years by obtaining residence permits during the appeal process even if their refugee status is not recognized by the competent authorities." He added, "The police will continue to conduct crackdowns on illegal entry of foreigners through brokers and crimes committed by foreigners."

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