By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Beginning in August, all foreign travelers entering Korea, aged 17 or over will have their fingerprints scanned and faces photographed at international airports and harbors. Diplomats and those traveling on official duty will be exempt.
The Ministry of Justice said Thursday that a set of bills aimed at toughening the immigration process got an endorsement at the National Assembly, Wednesday afternoon.
Unlike other passed bills that usually don't take effect until after six months, the measure will be put into practice within three months in preparation for the G-20 summit in November in Seoul, the ministry said.
"It will more effectively keep suspicious foreigners away from the territory," said Sohn Hong-ki, a senior official of the ministry. "After all, the upcoming summit is expected to be held in a much more secure environment."
Despite controversy over human rights infringement, the government has pushed ahead with the bill to combat the surging number of crimes committed by foreign nationals and attempts to pass through immigration with sophistically doctored passports.
The move came after the capture of two Pakistani men last month, who are suspected of being members of the Taliban.
According to crime statistics, the number of crimes committed by foreign nationals here jumped 189 percent in 2008, a ratio far exceeding that of crimes by locals during the same period of time.
"Crimes by foreigners are getting more sophisticated, organized and brutal," Sohn said. "They are extending their business realm to drug trafficking, contract-style murders and other lucrative crimes."
At present, eight countries ― the United States, Japan, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and Brazil ― require foreign travelers to have their fingerprints registered.
Four other countries ― Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada ― are expected to follow suit, the ministry said.
