541 Foreigners Falsely Invited and Refugee Application Gang Arrested

False Invitation Disguised as a Trader

A gang of false invitation brokers who deceived foreigners wishing to enter the country as traders and brokers who arranged false refugee applications for foreigners hoping for long-term stay were arrested by the police.

On the 9th, the Security Investigation Division 2 of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced that they arrested A (38), the representative of a false invitation company, B (33), a recruiter of Kyrgyzstan nationality, and C (24), an Uzbekistani national who arranged false refugee applications, on charges of violating the Immigration Control Act and obstructing official duties by deception. D (51), an accomplice in the false invitation, was also sent to prosecution without detention.

Additionally, three Uzbekistani nationals who entered the country with their help and then applied for false refugee status were sent to prosecution without detention for violating the Immigration Control Act.

The representative of the false invitation company, A, and the recruiter, B, are suspected of recruiting 541 people from seven countries, including Uzbekistan, who intended to enter the country for employment purposes from 2018 to May this year, and attempted to enter by sending false invitation letters and other invitation documents to enter as automobile parts buyers.

A used his company's name to commit the crime and received about 53 million won from foreigners as a fee for arranging false invitations.

As the representative of the false invitation company, A invited many foreigners under the name of his trading company, but when the embassy became suspicious and restricted further invitations, he involved D, who runs another trading company, to provide false invitation letters.

Through this method, out of the 541 foreigners who were falsely invited, visa issuance was approved for 262, and currently, 48 are residing in the country.

Three of them have been arrested, and the whereabouts of the others are being investigated.

Furthermore, some foreigners who entered the country through such false invitations abused the refugee system, which provides long-term stay benefits, by applying for false refugee status.

It was confirmed that broker C was involved in arranging false refugee applications during this process.

C was arrested after investigation revealed that he received about 5.5 million won from 11 foreigners, including Uzbekistani nationals, and provided false contracts and fabricated refugee reasons to arrange false refugee applications.

During a search of C's residence, the Yeosu Immigration Office cooperated and arrested three illegal Uzbekistani residents who were with him.

A police official said, "Strong crackdowns are necessary because foreigners who enter illegally may commit terrorism or other crimes in the country."