The number of illegal migrants is increasing in South Korea

The number of Uzbek labor migrants transitioning to illegal status in South Korea is increasing. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

Currently, this figure is approximately 9 percent. If this number exceeds 10 percent, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea may consider completely stopping the issuance of visas to Uzbek citizens.

This was announced by Uzbekistan's ambassador to South Korea, Alisher Abdusalomov, at a meeting of ambassadors and entrepreneurs held in Tashkent. According to the ambassador, the number of citizens who enter Korea legally but later leave their workplaces and engage in illegal labor activities is increasing.

Currently, about 100,000 Uzbeks live in South Korea, and nearly 9 percent of them are registered as working illegally. This situation negatively affects Uzbekistan's international reputation.

The problem is not limited to labor migration alone. Some young people who come to Korea for study also violate visa regulations.

Students admitted to language courses or higher education institutions abandon their studies and start working. This harms orderly migration and causes negative attitudes toward Uzbeks among Korean employers.

According to Alisher Abdusalomov, South Korea allocates 5,000 quotas annually to Uzbekistan for the E-8 type seasonal work visa. However, only about 600 citizens use it.

Currently, workers from Uzbekistan are sent to Korea only through the Migration Agency. According to official data, among foreign students studying in South Korea, violations of visa rules are also high among Uzbeks.

In particular, in 2024, 13 percent of students who came with a D-2 student visa and committed violations were Uzbeks.