Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |

A total of 12,841 of foreigners including 10,756 illegal immigrants, 2,063 illegal employers, and 22 illegal employment and entry agents were caught & inves tigated by the immigration in a government’s joint crackdown on illegal immigrants and other criminals entering the South Korea, within the duration of 77 days from April 15~ June 30, 2024.announced by the Ministry of Justice. 

A total of 10,756 foreigners illegally staying and work ing were cracked down, of which 9,784 were forced to leave the country, 444 were fined, and the rest are under investigation as a result of Crackdown on illegal foreigners.

Particularly in terms of drugs, the government caught 25 illegal aliens involved in foreign crimes that threaten the safety of the public, including 23 gambling offenders and 2 people distributing cannon cars. “We plan to deport them and ban them from entering the country as soon as the criminal proceedings are completed” said the Ministry of Justice.

In case of illegal employers, illegal job brokers, a fine of approximately 10 billion won was imposed on a total of 2,063 illegal employers, and 22 people, including illegal workers and entrants were caught and 3 people were arrested, 7 people were suspended without detention, and 2 people were fined. The rest are under investigation as per data released by the Ministry of Justice on July 12, 2024.

South Korean Ministry of Justice has maintained a consistent crackdown policy to reduce illegal immigrants from the country. During the first half of this year, 23,724 people were caught, the highest number ever, and 20,523 people voluntarily left the country.

The number of illegal aliens has been steadily decreasing since reaching a peak of 430,000 in October last year. The data released by the ministry of justice showcase illegal stay status that include 430,000 people in October 2023, 423,000 people in December 2023, 419,000 people in February 2024, 417,000 immigrants in April 2024 follows 414,000 in June 2024.

Park Seong-jae, the Minister of justice said, “we will continue to do our best to establish a strict stay order by consistently cracking down not only on illegal aliens but also immigration offenders who threaten the safety of the public and encourage illegal stay.”

South Korea governmental joint crackdown participant organizations include the Ministry of Justice, National Police Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Korea Coast Guard, etc.