13 Vietnamese Technical Trainees "Undocumented Residents Due to Vocational School"

Filed a Police Complaint on Charges Including Fraud

Vietnamese youths who came to Korea for technical training have filed a complaint with the police, claiming they were defrauded by a vocational school in Gimhae, Gyeongnam.

The Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a press conference in front of the Gimhae Jungbu Police Station on the 26th, urging a resolution, stating, "Thirteen Vietnamese youths became undocumented residents due to Vocational School A."

According to the Gyeongnam KCTU Headquarters, 13 Vietnamese technical trainees paid sending fees ranging from 25 million to 28 million KRW per person to a local study abroad agency and entered Korea in June and October 2023 with D-4-6 (shipbuilding trainee) visas.

These individuals, in their early to mid-20s, planned to receive welding education and vocational training at Vocational School A and then find employment at Korean shipyards.

As their one-year stay was about to expire, Vocational School A demanded 5.2 million KRW per person for education fees and six months of dormitory fees, claiming it was necessary for visa extension. However, the visa extension was not granted, and the youths became undocumented residents.

Democratic Labor Union Gyeongnam Branch officials are holding a press conference in front of Gimhae Jungbu Police Station, raising fraud allegations against a vocational school in Gimhae. Democratic Labor Union Gyeongnam Headquarters

The union stated, "Vocational School A illegally confiscated the trainees' passports and alien registration cards to extend their stay," adding, "When the trainees requested the return of their education fees, dormitory fees, and identification cards, the school instead sent threatening messages claiming they would file charges for obstruction of business."

"Two of the thirteen were caught by the immigration office and have already been deported, while the others have left the dormitory and are hiding," the union reported. "The trainees are appealing their grievances and seeking a resolution."

On the same day, they filed a police complaint against Vocational School A on charges including fraud. Earlier, on the 24th of last month, they filed a lawsuit at the Changwon District Court demanding the return of unjust profits.

The union criticized, "The training provided by Vocational School A was inadequate, and some trainees worked for about a month in Mokpo under the pretext of on-site training but did not receive wages," demanding, "Restore the trainees' stay visas, provide proper education, and allow them to gain legal employment."

They also called for the return of the education fees, dormitory fees, alien registration cards, and passports paid by the trainees, as well as for the Ministry of Employment and Labor to punish Vocational School A.

Cho Chang-jong, Secretary General of the Gyeongnam Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and lawyer Lee Joo-eon are submitting a complaint to the Gimhae Jungbu Police Station. Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeongnam Headquarters

Vocational School A responded in a statement, saying, "We proceeded with the trainees' visa extensions, but approval was not granted," and added, "We continuously contacted the trainees, offering to assist with re-entry after departure, but the trainees refused."

They also stated, "The training cost is 12.45 million KRW per year, and if there is a legal obligation to refund the portion excluding four and a half months from the additional extension fee of 5.2 million KRW, we will take responsibility."

"The on-site training cost in Mokpo is unrelated to the training center and was a unilateral claim by Mr. A, who worked as an agent and took the trainees there," they said, adding, "We are also victims and are pursuing legal action."

They further explained, "It is true that we retain some trainees' passports to prevent absconding and for visa-related matters, but we return them whenever the trainees request."