The growing number of undocumented foreign residents comes from the rapidly increasing number of foreigners in Korea, and the Korean government’s no-visa policy to attract more tourists to Korea. (image: Kobiz Media / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, July 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The number of undocumented foreign residents has increased by more than 13 percent in the first half of the year, according to the Ministry of Justice.
The ministry announced on July 27 that as of June this year, the total number of foreigners illegally residing in Korea was 212,596, or an increase of 13.5 percent from the 187,340 in the same period of the previous year. Since the end of 2014, it also went up by 1.8 percent from 208,778.
The ratio of illegal aliens among the total number of foreigners in Korea increased to 12.1 percent from 11 percent in June 2014.
The growing number of undocumented foreign residents comes from the rapidly increasing number of foreigners in Korea, and the Korean government’s no-visa policy to attract more tourists to Korea.
The number of illegal aliens peaked in 2007 at 223,464, and dropped below the 200,000 level in 2009. However, it surpassed the 200,000 mark last year with 208,778, and shows no sign of abating.
When looking at the numbers of undocumented foreigners by age, those in their 30s topped the list at 32.9 percent, followed by those in their 40s (27.2%), in their 20s (21.8%) and in their 50s (10.1%).
By types of entrance visa, 26.5 percent came to Korea on visa exemptions, 23.4 percent entered Korea with non-professional employment (E-9), 21.7 percent with a visitor’s visa and 8.1 percent with a tourist visa.
By M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
