Police in Hau Giang Province, southern Vietnam have arrested and launched legal proceedings against a married couple in the province for arranging the illegal entry of 18 Vietnamese people into South Korea.

The Hau Giang Department of Public Security executed the arrest warrant for Hoang Dinh Tung, 32, and Tran Thi Hong Nga, 34 on a charge of “organizing others to flee abroad” on Friday.

Preliminary investigations showed that between July and October 2023, Tung and Nga, having advertised on social media platforms, received applications from 18 individuals seeking employment in South Korea under the E8-2 visa category. 

This category is reserved for Vietnamese citizens with relatives who are Vietnamese women married to South Korean nationals.

The married couple charged an agreed fee ranging from VND70 million (US$2,750) to VND100 million ($3,930) per person.

Each prospective worker made deposits of VND20 million ($785) to VND40 million ($1,571) in advance.

Upon successful entry, they were to transfer the remaining amount.

In November 2023, Tung and Nga discussed establishing Mien Tay Visa Co. Ltd. in Thi Tu Hamlet, Bay Ngan Town, Chau Thanh A District of Hau Giang Province, with Nga appointed as director, to handle documentation and provide guidance for individuals seeking employment in South Korea.

The 18 applicants, who collectively paid over VND499 million ($19,600) to Tung and Nga, were not linked to Vietnamese brides married to South Korean nationals and did not qualify for sponsorship for labor-related entry. 

Consequently, Tung and Nga arranged for these individuals to travel to South Korea under visa-exemption programs, intending to stay and work illegally after entry.

Between January and February this year, Tung and Nga facilitated four attempts for the 18 individuals to enter South Korea, all of which were unsuccessful, leading to their deportation due to inappropriate stay status.

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