Immigration authorities have apprehended eight people, including a Burundian national, on charges of bringing in African people wishing to enter South Korea by providing them with fake invitations, officials said Tuesday.

One of them, a 64-year-old South Korean, allegedly received 5 million won (US$3,649) from the Burundian national in exchange for providing fake invitations to 10 people from the African nation, according to Incheon Airport Immigration Office and Foreigner’s Office.

The Burundian broker, who was a former employee of the South Korean person’s electrical parts firm, has been formally arrested and referred to the prosecution while three others were referred to the prosecution without physical detention.

In a separate case, a 28-year-old South Korean person and three others have also been referred to the prosecution on charges of falsely inviting 40 Ethiopian people through paper companies in exchange for receiving US$500 per person, officials said.

An Ethiopian broker has been put on the wa
nted list, officials said.

The immigration office launched an investigation into the case following increased cases of Africans applying for refugee status in South Korea after being banned from entering the country for failing to justify the purpose of their visit.

“We plan to expand the investigation into those behind the false invitations and the brokers involved, and request the diplomatic missions toughen the evaluation process for visa issuance,” an immigration office official said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency