Police have arrested a group of brokers accused of helping foreigners file false refugee applications by creating fake documents.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Drug Crime Investigation Unit International Crime Investigation Division noted that they have sent two individuals, including Indian broker A, who facilitated false refugee applications, and eight refugee applicants to prosecutors on charges of violating the Immigration Control Act as of the 25th.
The brokers are suspected of having charged Indian nationals who entered on tourist visas between December 2023 and March of last year between $300 and $1,000 each for fabricating fake refugee documents.
Investigations revealed that they led false refugee applicants to apply for refugee status by using personal information and telling lies such as 'abuse by the husband,' 'assault by a political group,' and 'assault due to conversion to Christianity and other religions.' They also paid a month's rent at a goshiwon (a type of traditional boarding house) and received applications to stay, which they delivered to the false refugee applicants, attaching these to the refugee application forms to mislead about their residence. It is reported that the applicants did not actually stay at the goshiwon.
Police received information last July that multiple false refugee applications were being submitted, using the same goshiwon address as the residence, prompting them to launch an investigation. During the investigation, they successfully identified and apprehended some of the false refugee applicants.
Police believe there may be more individuals who falsely applied for refugee status through brokers and are currently investigating further.