The number of illegal migrants from Uzbekistan working in South Korea has recently increased sharply. Currently, this figure is about 9 percent. If it exceeds the 10 percent threshold, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea may consider the issue of completely suspending the issuance of visas to citizens of Uzbekistan.
This was announced by the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to South Korea, Alisher Abdusalomov, at a meeting with ambassadors and entrepreneurs held in Tashkent on January 17.
According to the ambassador, the number of citizens who officially go to Korea and then leave their jobs and switch to illegal work is increasing. Currently, about 100,000 Uzbeks live in South Korea, and almost 9% of them work illegally. The diplomat emphasized that this situation has a serious negative impact on Uzbekistan's international reputation and image.
The problem is not limited to labor migration alone. It is also observed in the field of education. According to the ambassador, some young people who came to Korea to study at language courses or higher education institutions are violating visa requirements by dropping out of their studies and switching to work. This situation seriously hinders orderly migration and leads to the formation of a negative attitude towards Uzbek workers among Korean employers.
Alisher Abdusalomov also reported that South Korea annually allocates 5,000 quotas for E-8 type seasonal work visas to Uzbekistan, but in practice, only about 600 citizens use this opportunity. Currently, workers from Uzbekistan to Korea are officially sent only through the Migration Agency.
According to official data, Uzbekistanis are among the most frequent violators of visa regulations among foreign students studying in South Korea. In particular, in 2024, 13 percent of students who violated the rules by coming with a D-2 student visa were citizens of Uzbekistan.
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