Chinese Broker Caught Assisting 'Illegal Visa Extensions' Through Non-Face-to-Face Civil Service

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] A Chinese broker who exploited the non-face-to-face civil service window introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to assist illegal visa extensions for Chinese nationals in South Korea has been caught by investigative authorities.

The Immigration Special Investigation Unit of the Seoul Immigration Office announced on the 8th that on the 3rd, they had sent a Chinese national, Mr. A, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office under custody on charges of violating the Immigration Control Act.

Mr. A is accused of forging documents necessary for visa extensions, such as lease contracts and departure flight tickets, and facilitating the extension applications for 368 Chinese nationals.

In particular, it was found that he exploited loopholes in the 'Non-face-to-face Electronic Civil Service Application System (Hi Korea),' which has been in operation since April last year due to COVID-19, to apply for extensions on behalf of others.

Mr. A earned approximately 90,000 KRW per person, totaling 33 million KRW in criminal proceeds.

Investigative authorities have deported 14 Chinese nationals who extended their stay using the same method and are tracking down the remaining Chinese nationals involved.