New Bill Proposed for Deportation of Foreign Criminals in South Korea

A group of conservative legislators in South Korea has introduced a bill allowing the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of drug, sex, or voice phishing offenses without requiring a prison sentence. The amendment to the Immigration Act aims to broaden the grounds for deportation, currently limited to cases with custodial sentences. This proposal is driven by concerns that the existing law is too narrow, particularly for serious crimes deemed socially harmful. If enacted, immigration officials would be able to deport foreigners who receive fines for specified offenses, including telecommunication fraud. In 2024, over 35,000 foreign nationals were booked as criminal suspects, with a notable increase from previous years. Despite this, foreign nationals represent only 2% of all criminal suspects in Korea, and their crime rate is lower than that of Koreans on a per-capita basis. The bill was submitted on July 3, 2026, by Rep. Kim Tae-ho and 11 other lawmakers from the People Power Party.

Key Points: • Proposed bill allows deportation of foreigners for serious crimes without prison sentences. • Legislation aims to address concerns about the narrow scope of current deportation laws. • In 2024, over 35,000 foreign nationals were booked as criminal suspects in South Korea.