Couple held for smuggling 18 people to South Korea

Hoang Dinh Tung, 32, and his wife Tran Thi Hong Nga, 34, face charges of organizing, brokering illegal emigration.

Tran Thi Hong Nga signs the paper as requested by police upon her arrest in Hau Giang Province, May 10, 2024. Photo by VnExpres/Chau Thanh

According to the police, they posted advertisements on social media offering to take people to work in South Korea with E8-2 visas, a category of seasonal labor visa designed for short-term agricultural work.

To qualify, one needs a family member married to a Korean citizen to sponsor them.

The visa allows a maximum work duration of five months, longer than the C4 visa, which is valid for only three.

The couple charged each person VND70-100 million with VND20-40 million payable upfront and the rest upon successful entry.

Hoang Dinh Tung when arrested on May 10, 2024. Photo by VnExpres/Chau Thanh

Between July and October 2023 they signed up 18 people from across Vietnam.

In November 2023 they established the Southwest Visa Co. Ltd with Nga as the director.

But the 18 applicants who paid nearly VND500 million did not have any relatives married to South Korean citizens or qualify for entry for the purpose of work.

So the duo conspired to send them as tourists and have them illegally stay back in South Korea.

During the first two months of this year they sent the 18 to South Korea in four different groups, but all were denied entry and sent back home.