Vietnamese people living illegally in South Korea: What can they do to return home?

Mr. Tong Hai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, provided information on policies for Vietnamese workers residing illegally in South Korea who wish to return home.

PV: Sir, does South Korea have any support policies in place?

According to South Korean regulations, foreigners residing illegally in the country who voluntarily register to return home between April 1st and September 30th will not be restricted from re-entering South Korea, will be exempt from penalties, and will be allowed to return to South Korea after obtaining a visa from a South Korean diplomatic mission abroad.

Vietnamese workers in South Korea.

PV: Vietnamese workers residing illegally in South Korea are wondering what procedures they need to follow and which agencies they should contact to register for voluntary repatriation?

There are two ways to register: Bring your valid passport or travel document and airline ticket to the immigration office at a Korean international airport to register for voluntary repatriation.

Alternatively, they can contact the Vietnam Labor Management Office under the EPS program in Korea (phone number 02 393 6868) or the Vietnam Labor Management Board in Korea (phone number 02 364 1043/45) for detailed instructions on the declaration procedure.

PV: When returning to their home country, do workers have to register with the authorities?

In Vietnam, after returning home, workers need to report to the authorities following these steps: For those who have received a decision on administrative penalties for violations, they should voluntarily report their return to the country at the People's Committee of the commune, ward, or town where they are registered as permanent residents, and submit a photocopy of their passport or travel document.

For workers who have not been penalized for administrative violations: Send a photocopy of your passport or travel document to the Center for Overseas Labor (No. 1 Trinh Hoai Duc Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi; telephone: 04 3734 6751).

PV: After September 30, 2016, what penalties will illegal workers in South Korea face under both Vietnamese and South Korean law if they do not voluntarily register to return home?

+ South Korean judicial police regularly conduct raids on illegally residing foreign workers. Those caught face a maximum fine of 40 million won (approximately 768 million Vietnamese dong) or a maximum prison sentence of 12 months. Failure to pay the fine will result in forced labor to generate the funds. Afterward, these workers will be deported back to their home countries.

On the Vietnamese side, those who do not voluntarily register to return home during the amnesty period will be subject to penalties under Decree 95/2013/ND-CP from October 1, 2016, with fines up to 100 million VND.

According to PLO