World Immigration News

Inside Korea's immigration dragnet

Release Date: 2026-02-26
Media: The Korea Herald
Summary: The article describes growing concerns among migrant workers in South Korea over intensified immigration crackdowns under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.

Faisal, a Bangladeshi man who overstayed his visa after arriving on a language study visa nearly 20 years ago, says raids now occur every one to two months near workplaces and in public spaces such as subway stations and markets. Detainees are transferred for deportation processing, and enforcement actions have sharply increased, with nearly 140,000 foreign nationals deported, fined, or ordered to leave in 2024. While the government has expanded visa programs to address labor shortages, it has also tightened enforcement, citing a rise in undocumented migrants under the previous administration.

Activists and legal experts argue that the system contains structural contradictions. Many migrants enter legally but overstay due to rigid visa rules, limited work options, high broker fees, and restrictions on changing jobs or extending stays. Critics say the system effectively pushes workers into illegality and then penalizes them. Concerns have also been raised about due process during crackdowns, including lack of transparency and interpretation.

Experts note that South Korea’s immigration laws are highly rigid and strictly enforced, leaving little flexibility for long-term settlement even when employers want to retain workers. Faisal, who has lived in Korea for decades and raised a family there, says he fears detention but hopes to regularize his status, expressing his willingness to pay taxes and live legally if given the chance.
Tags: Korea

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