Another serious violent crime involving foreigners has occurred on Jeju Island, South Korea. Last Monday, a Chinese man was found murdered at a hotel in central Jeju City. Police have arrested four Chinese nationals as suspects.
As foreigner-related crimes surge, Jeju Island is on edge. In particular, violent crimes among undocumented Chinese nationals who enter the country through Jeju’s visa-free program have become increasingly frequent.
On February 16, in a residential area of Jeju City, a group of Chinese nationals brutally assaulted a man identified as A, who was also Chinese. The suspects did not stop at assault but stole approximately $2,095 in cash and a mobile phone from the victim before fleeing, leading to charges of aggravated robbery.
Following the victim’s report, police tracked and arrested all six suspects.
Investigations revealed that all six suspects were undocumented migrants who had been working in temporary labor jobs in Jeju. They claimed they committed the crime because they had not received wages after working at a construction site.
Additionally, in January, a Chinese undocumented migrant attempted murder by attacking a coworker with a weapon over a work-related dispute. The suspect, a Chinese man in his 50s, stabbed a fellow Chinese worker in the abdomen inside an employee dormitory at a quarry in Seogwipo City on January 19. The police later arrested him.
The suspect and the victim had entered Jeju visa-free but remained in South Korea without returning home.
Another murder case occurred on January 22 in Yeon-dong, Jeju City, where a Chinese woman in her 30s was killed. The suspect, an undocumented Chinese man in his 30s, assaulted his former partner for two hours, ultimately leading to her death.
In addition to these cases, in August 2024, a Chinese national was caught attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into Jeju, hiding it inside a travel suitcase. In September, another Chinese national was fined after being caught illegally filming a flight attendant on an airplane.
Despite the growing number of foreign-related crimes, effective countermeasures remain lacking.
Jeju operates a visa-free entry policy, allowing foreign visitors to stay for up to one month without a visa. While this policy has helped boost tourism, it has also been exploited for illegal stays and violent crimes.
Regarding this issue, Jeju Police Commissioner Kim Soo Young stated during a press conference in August 2024, “We are actively responding to violations of public order through fines and guidance. Additionally, we plan to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese Consulate to address foreign-related crimes.”