TIM eMagazine Vol.1 Issue 5
As of January 2016, there are 54,437 Filipinos
residing in Korea and 12,364 of them are illegally
staying or working in the country. “We are enjoining
undocumented Filipinos in South Korea to avail of
this program, thus avoid being entangled with South
Korea’s immigration laws,” said Baldoz.
“The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)
in South Korea is willing to cooperate to South
Korea government by widely disseminating the
voluntary return program through its official website
and Facebook and by distributing the leaflets of
the program at the Consular Section,” Baldoz said,
adding that the program will also be promoted at any
opportunity to the Filipino community.
Among the sanctions that an illegal migrant will
face once caught by the authorities include a re-entry
ban for up to five years regardless of the period of
overstaying, and imposition of an enhanced criminal
penalty and increased fines.
Meanwhile, as standing procedure of the scheme,
all illegal migrants willing to leave the country
must secure a flight ticket, valid passport and
other pertinent travel documents, and to report to
immigration offices at all ports of entry on the day of
their departure.
However, if they entered the country using a
forged passport, there will be more time needed for
verification of identify. In this case, they are advised to
To deter illegal immigration, the South Korean government
has formulated plans to prevent the entry of foreigners deemed as “high
risk” in becoming illegals, and to deter South Korean companies from
employing illegal workers.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ)-Korea Immigration
Service earlier discussed the management of illegal
migrants with labor-sending countries, which includes
China, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia,
Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia,
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, East
Timor, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
The South Korean’s immigration policy temporarily
suspends the re-entry ban for those who will submit
themselves to the scheme; thus will have the privilege
from being exempted from the five-year re-entry ban
imposed on over stayers, and from the penalty for
illegal migrants and their employers.
Aside from