Increasing Foreign Crimes... Jeju Police Prepare Special Security Measures for 100 Days

Illegal Departures and Crimes After Entering Jeju by Abusing the Visa-Free System
Introduction of a Deposit System for Rental Cars to Cover Potential Fines

The Jeju Provincial Police Agency will implement a 'Special Crime Prevention Measures for Foreigners' for 100 days until the end of June.

According to a report by Yonhap News on the 17th, the Jeju Provincial Police Agency has formed a special task force (TF) led by Jeong Seongsu, Deputy Commissioner of the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, to carry out the 'Special Crime Prevention Measures for Foreigners' in response to the recent consecutive occurrences of crimes involving foreigners in the province.

On the same day, the Jeju Provincial Police Agency held the first TF meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner to discuss four measures: ▲ seeking ways to supplement the visa-free entry system ▲ strengthening cooperation and publicity with related organizations ▲ expanding and specializing police personnel ▲ conducting prevention and crackdown activities by concentrating police forces.

Special Security Measures Task Force 1st T/F Meeting on Foreign Crime Response. Photo by Jeju Police Agency

In particular, to prevent abuse of the visa-free entry system where offenders commit crimes after entering Jeju and then flee, the Jeju Police decided to seek supplementary measures such as cooperation with related organizations including the Jeju Autonomous Police Committee, prosecution, and the Immigration and Foreigners Office, as well as the introduction of a deposit system. Among these, the deposit system is a scheme where foreigners pay a certain deposit in advance when renting a car, which is later settled against any fines that may be imposed. Additionally, the police plan to establish cooperative relationships with Jeju Province, consulates, tourism associations, and foreigner communities to carry out systematic prevention activities.

Internally, the police will strengthen foreign affairs functions and operate a mobile patrol unit as a dedicated team focused on responding to crimes involving foreigners for the next 100 days.

A TF official from the Jeju Provincial Police Agency emphasized, "Although the proportion of crimes involving foreigners among all crimes is low at 2-3%, recent crime patterns have increased residents' anxiety. We will respond to all criminal acts with a zero-tolerance policy regardless of nationality."

Jeju operates a visa-free entry system allowing foreigners from 111 countries, excluding terrorism-supporting countries, to stay for up to 30 days to promote tourism. Foreigners entering under this system can stay in Jeju for up to a month but are not allowed to travel to other regions. However, recently, there have been repeated cases of foreigners entering Jeju first and then attempting to illegally leave for other regions or committing various crimes in Jeju.

Last month, two Chinese nationals who entered under the visa-free system broke into a temple columbarium in Jeju, stole six urns, hid them, and fled. They sent a video of the stolen urns to the temple, demanding $2 million USD (approximately 2.87 billion KRW) for their return. The police searched a nearby mountain for three days while reviewing the video, recovered all the urns, and have requested an Interpol warrant to pursue them on charges of special theft and illegal possession of human remains.

Meanwhile, since the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, the number of arrivals has increased in Jeju, and crimes involving foreigners have continued to rise. According to the arrest records for crimes involving foreigners over the past six years, the numbers were 732 in 2019, 629 in 2020, 505 in 2021, 516 in 2022, 535 in 2023, and a provisional 608 in 2024, showing an increase every year since 2021. About 70% of crimes involving foreigners are known to be committed by Chinese nationals.

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