K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is an online electronic travel authorization for travelers without a visa to Korea that can be obtained prior to entering the Republic of Korea (ROK) for leisure, business, or to visit family (except for profit-making projects). If you are planning to visit South Korea and want to apply for the K-ETA, you can visit the official K-ETA website or its mobile application and submit an application on your own behalf or on behalf of another
Continue readingCategory: Korean Immigration Law
An Introduction to IPG Legal’s Immigration Law Practice in Korea
Korean Immigration Law is an evolving area of law in South Korea that often changes with the change of governments. IPG legal many business and individual clients that run afoul or wish not to run afoul of Korea’s Immigration Laws. In worse-case scenarios, you can be deported, have an entry ban imposed, or be sent to a detention center or receive, even, a jail sentence. But, please know, for most individuals pathways exist to secure your visa status legally. IPG
Continue readingShort of Workers in Korea Deepens Issues in the Korean Construction Industry
The shortage of workers in South Korea’s construction industry is deepening, and it has pushed the industry to request the government to allow in more foreign workers. The industry is now discussing with the government easing regulations on visa rules in order to hire more foreign construction workers to overcome this serious shortage. We hope that the new Korean Administration considers foreigners a necessary and important part of the Korean economy. These proposals from the Korean Construction Industry come as
Continue readingInternational Arbitrations in Korea under the IBA Rules
Procedural Arbitration rules are key to the efficient and effective adjudication of arbitration disputes in Korea and, also, worldwide. These arbitration rules govern and set out the framework for the arbitration process. Evidence gathering and presentation are important aspects of the above procedure, and yet, institutional and ad hoc rules that provide arbitration guidelines on other matters such as the appointment of arbitrators and the nature of award and costs are, usually, silent on this point. Advantages of such a
Continue readingConstitutional Court Upholds Cellphone Ban While Driving
Long term foreign residents will note that the Korean Constitutional Court has upheld the rule banning the use of cellphones while driving. The court ruling stipulates that the ban isn’t a violation of the Korean Constitution. Using cellphones while driving increases the risk of traffic accident and should be banned to protect the life, body, and property of the people. The law allows certain exceptions that permit the use of cellphones in emergency situations, minimizing unecessary inconvenience. Korean Constitutional Court’s
Continue readingImmigration updates for Foreigners In Korea: Expiration of Visas
The Korean Ministry for Justice (MOJ) announced it is relaxing passport restrictions for foreign residents in South Korea. Under the new guidelines from the MOJ, long-term foreign residents shall be allowed to stay in the country after their passport expires. The MOJ announced it was giving foreign nationals in Korea an amnesty period until June 2022. Foreign nationals shall be allowed to stay in Korea for up to 12 months, even if their passport has expired. Once the amnesty period has expired,
Continue readingHow to Appeal a Korean Deportation Order or Exit Order?
If you are issued a deportation order or exit order by the Korean Immigration Service, you still have avenues to reverse this deportation order or exit order. The main thing you need to, immediately, do is contact an experienced lawyer and get the lawyer all information asked for by the lawyer as soon as possible. A foreign national may challenge an Deportation Order or exit order of Korean Immigration Service by two ways. First is through Administrative Appeal and second is
Continue readingBelgian Ambassador’s Wife on Assault Charge: Hiring a Proactive Defense Lawyer in Korea
Criminal assault cases involving members of the foreign community are serious business in Korea. The case of the Belgian Ambassador’s wife highlights the importance of engaging an experienced English-speaking criminal attorney. It was reported, that the Belgian Ambassador was recalled after his wife was caught in a second assault altercation. In May of this year, CCTV emerged of the Belgian Ambassador’s wife, Xiang Xueqiu slapping a shop assistant. Staff at the store believed that Mrs. Xiang may have been shoplifting
Continue readingOnline Immigration Visit Reservation System to be Implemented in All Immigration Offices starting April 1, 2021
On March 8, 2021, Minister Park Beom Kye of the Ministry of Justice made an announcement that the online visit reservation system shall be implemented in all Immigration Offices starting April 1, 2021. We believe this system shall expedite the visa processing system. According to the Ministry of Justice, this system shall not, only, reduce long lines and waiting time of visitors, it will also ensure proper social distancing in compliance with COVID-19 regulations. The online visit reservation system shall
Continue readingChanges to the Korean Immigration System means more Opportunities for Single Parents to Work in Korea
The Korean Times, recently, reported that the Ministry of Justice is looking at changes to the Immigration System to allow single parents to remain in South Korea with their adult children. The proposed changes are significant as it allows the provision for foreign residents to remain in the country provided they meet specific benchmarks for the resident F-2 visa. Migrants who were previously married to a Korean citizen will now be eligible for this visa, in the event of divorce
Continue readingDeportation after COVID-19 Quarantine Violations in Korea
This week a bill was submitted by Korean politicians to make the deportation process easier for the Korean government to deport foreign nationals accused of submitting false testing information for COVID-19. The COVID pandemic remains an emotive issue in Korea as cases have been steadily rising domestically over this Winter season. Political leaders, within Korea, have had a long history of using the foreign population as an easy target to win the hearts and minds of the public when times
Continue readingDeportation after Criminal Conviction in Korea: Korea Immigration Law Basics
Korea’s Immigration Services has increased enforcement/deportation actions against foreigners convicted of crimes. Upon exit from Korea, the Immigration Service has been instructing individuals to report to Immigration with the written judgment and confirmation that the fine (if any) was paid in full. These records may be obtained from the Prosecutor’s Office. We advise reporting to Immigration, only, after an attorney reviews the matter and, potentially, writes a legal opinion to the Immigration Services of Korea. If you live in the
Continue readingAmendment to the Korean Immigration Act Supports Foreign Children in Cases of Child Abuse
In early April 2019 the Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee proposed an Amendment to the Immigration Act of Korea , with the facial purpose of implement more supportive regulations to assist foreign children that are victims of child abuse. Please note, unlike in the United States and some other Western countries, being born in Korea does not, automatically, grant you the right to Korean citizenship. The Amendment shall be effective upon promulgation. For an article on deportation from
Continue readingFleeing Korea while under Police/Prosecutor Investigation: International Hold in Korea
From changes a couple of years ago in the computer system and policy of the Korean Immigration Services, even if the Korean prosecution/police have not requested that an accused be placed on an International Hold, some records of police investigations, indictments and proposed fines and sentences by the prosecution/police are being reported to the Korean Immigration Service at airports and ports of departure. An International Hold, in Korea, is an official procedure that flags passports and fingerprints & prevents one,
Continue readingMandatory Registration of Long-term Trips Abroad – Korean Registration of Korean Nationals Residing Abroad Act of 2019
The Amendment to the Korean Registration of Korean Nationals Residing Abroad Act (hereinafter as “Amendment to the Registration of Korean Nationals Abroad Act”) shall enter into force at the end of 2019. The Amendments major focus is on collecting more information about Korean nationals staying or residing abroad. For a related update related to Korean Passports, please see: Korean Passports. Key-facts about the Registration of Korean Nationals Residing Abroad Act The Korean Registration of Korean Nationals Residing Abroad Act facial
Continue readingKorea Amends the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers in 2019: Employment Law Updates
Amendment to the Act of the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers in Korea (hereinafter as “Amendment to the Act of the Employment of Foreign Workers” of Korea) was proposed by the Korean Environment and Labor Committee in December 2018. The focus of the Amendment of the Employment of Foreign Workers is on the improvement of the living conditions of foreign workers at dormitories provided by their companies. Major Changes Due to the Amendment and the Struggles on the Way Addition
Continue readingKorea’s New Electronic Passport Without Resident Registration Number in 2020
The Amendment to the Korean Passport Act introduces a new Korean Electronic Passport. The passport excludes the Resident Registration Number and establishes a new system in order to ease administrative work of the government. This Amendment shall become effective in 2020. The Passport Act of the Republic of Korea According to Art. 7 Passport Act every Korean passport shall include: Type of passport; Issuing state; Passport number; Date of issuance and expiration; Issuing authority; Name of the passport-holder; Nationality of
Continue readingKorean Immigration Law: Challenging a Korean Immigration Deportation/Exit Order in Korea
Being convicted of a crime in Korea, may lead to deportation. If you are issued a deportation/exit order from the Korean Immigration Service, you do have avenues to reverse this deportation order within the courts. Korean Immigration Law is rapidly changing – please check back to The Korean Law Blog for the latest updates from Korean Immigration lawyers from IPG’s Korean Immigration Law Team. The Courts in Korea have jurisdiction to review all exit/deportation orders issued by Korean Immigration. Korean
Continue readingThe Signs of a Great Criminal Lawyer in Korea | English-Speaking Criminal Defense Attorney in Seoul
There are few great English-fluent criminal defense lawyers working in Korea, because of the nature of the Korean criminal justice system and other Korean realities. It is even more difficult to find competent English-speaking criminal defense attorneys outside of Seoul. In Korea, in all cases, where you are accused of a crime and you fear that you may be sentenced to time in a Korean jail, may be deported from Korea or the Korean conviction may harm your future –
Continue readingExit Ban of Foreigners in Korea for Not Paying Taxes, Custom Duties or Violation of Law: Immigration Law Basics
The Korean Immigration Control Act and related acts allows the potential to permanently impose an exit ban on foreigners for nearly all acts that are determined by the Ministry of Justice as “harming the interest, public safety or order in the economy of the Republic of Korea” until the reason for the exit ban ceases to exist. (Immigration Control Act of Korea Article 4(1)5.) The Immigration Control Act of Korea, also, always Korean government agencies to request the imposition of
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