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| Hundreds of foreigners who have been staying illegally on Jeju Island have left after the Ministry of Justice said it will lift the ban on entry for those who leave voluntarily. / Korea Times file |
By Lee Han-soo
Hundreds of foreigners who have been staying illegally on Jeju Island have left after the Ministry of Justice said it will lift the ban on entry for those who leave voluntarily.
The number who left under this new provision totaled 891. Most were Chinese, followed by Mongolians, Vietnamese and Thais, according to the Jeju immigration office Tuesday. The figure was a big increase on the 87 illegally staying foreigners who left last year.
The ministry announced on Mar. 1 that it would lift the prohibition on entry for illegal stayers who have been in the country for less than three years if they leave voluntarily by May 31.
"Illegal foreigners have to report to the Jeju immigration office with a valid passport and plane ticket," an immigration office official. "There will be no expense charge."
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