South Korea threatens to end migration relations with Uzbekistan

South Korea is considering severing migration ties with Uzbekistan, a development discussed during a press conference on January 17 with the leadership of the Migration Agency. Jamoliddin Kalandarov, head of the agency’s press service, warned that the growing number of Uzbek citizens residing illegally in South Korea could lead to severe consequences.

"Currently, the number of Uzbek citizens illegally residing in Korea has reached 9.6 percent. If this number reaches 10 percent, that country may also end migration relations with us. Therefore, we are forced to take stricter measures," Kalandarov stated.

Islomjon Khamroev, head of the Migration Agency’s department, explained South Korean legislation that addresses illegal migrants. 

"According to the legislation of the Republic of Korea, if the number of illegal labor migrants from each country exceeds 10 percent, the issues of reducing, restricting, and canceling visas will be put on the agenda. That is why, in order to prevent our citizens from becoming illegal, the Migration Agency has concluded a tripartite agreement. In this agreement, labor migrants undertake not to change their place of work or become illegal after arriving in Korea without directly agreeing with the agency. The actions of a citizen are carried out at the discretion of the parties to the agreement on legal relations. Therefore, in such a case, the departing migrant is not forced to sign. Before signing the agreement, explanatory work was carried out, and a special course has even been established. The agency has established a special course to explain to departing citizens the consequences, negative circumstances, liability, deportation for violating the legislation of that country, and the issue of imposing fines.," he explained. 

Why don’t South Korean companies hire Uzbeks?

South Korea has long been a popular destination for Uzbek migrants seeking better work opportunities. However, there are growing concerns over why South Korean companies seem increasingly reluctant to hire Uzbek workers. What mistakes are Uzbek migrants making that may be contributing to this shift in hiring patterns?

Azam Akhmatov, the head of the Migration Agency’s department, explained one key issue: the frequent job turnover among Uzbek migrants. 

“After selecting a foreign worker, each Korean employer incurs significant costs for formalizing documents, obtaining visas from the Korean Ministry of Justice, preparing necessary paperwork, and providing accommodation. However, a recent trend among Uzbek migrants is that many leave their jobs within 1 to 3 months of arriving in Korea, often to take up slightly higher-paying positions suggested by relatives or acquaintances. This leaves the employer with significant financial losses. From this perspective, employers are more likely to hire workers from other countries, such as Senegal or Vietnam, where cases of workers leaving their jobs after just a few months are far less common,” Akhmatov said.

According to the Migration Agency, the number of illegal immigrants from Uzbekistan to South Korea exceeded 3,000-4,000 by 2022, though it has since decreased to around 2,000-3,000. Despite this reduction, South Korea continues to scale back its demand for migrant workers. In recent years, South Korea has stopped accepting applications for migration not only from Uzbekistan but also from other countries.

“Since 2007, Korea has been working with 16 countries as part of the ‘employment assistance system'. Every year, based on its own labor shortages, South Korea provides information on how many workers it needs. The issue here is that migrants are usually required to come on an E-9 visa. There are also other visa categories, like E-7 for special qualifications or E-8 for seasonal work. But recently, the number of migrants being accepted from countries, including Uzbekistan, has been decreasing. For example, in 2023, South Korea sent 19,738 workers from Nepal, but by 2024, that number dropped to 7,081. Similarly, last year, 4,878 Uzbek citizens went to South Korea, while this year the figure dropped to 3,080. The reduction in demand is also linked to some South Korean companies declaring bankruptcy due to economic challenges," explained the agency’s representative. 

Another challenge faced by migrants is the growing number of Uzbek citizens waiting for job placement in South Korea. Over 10,000 Uzbek nationals have passed the required exams but are still waiting for Korean employers to select them. 

"Taking action against one citizen for illegal immigration affects thousands of people. More than 10,000 people are waiting for job selection after passing the exams. Therefore, every citizen of our country who works abroad must comply with the laws and regulations. We must view them not just as migrants but as small investors who have come from our country," said the head of the Information Service. 

Why do Uzbeks go to Korea illegally?

One of the primary reasons Uzbeks resort to illegal migration to South Korea is the high cost of obtaining a legal work visa. For instance, securing an E-9 work visa, which is required to work in South Korea, costs around $1,200. This sum includes fees for services provided by the Migration Agency, prompting many to question why a state-run organization, responsible for facilitating job opportunities abroad, charges fees to citizens seeking employment overseas.

"Although the Migration Agency is a state organization, it operates under economic management. It has the right to charge for the services it provides, such as paying its employees, offering other services, and creating necessary conditions for these services. The idea of completely eliminating these fees—due to the limited training periods for citizens traveling to countries like Russia—was also considered. However, the decision was made to keep these fees, as training groups for South Korea require up to 15 days of preparation, and naturally, money is needed to support this," explained Azam Akhmatov, the head of the agency’s department.

The migration system has faced repeated criticism due to corruption. This has resulted in frequent changes in leadership within the agency, as it has struggled to address these issues. The public continues to question whether the newly restructured Migration Agency, now under the Cabinet of Ministers, will be able to resolve these persistent problems that tarnish Uzbekistan’s migration reputation.

"Everyone knows there were cases of corruption when sending people to Korea before. This is a fact. The agency has changed, and our main goal is to get closer to the people and earn their trust. The key issue is that if you don’t have money, you can’t get the job done," said Matlab Kuronov, deputy director of the Migration Agency. 

In response to these issues, the new leadership of the Migration Agency is implementing measures to reduce illegal immigration to South Korea. Efforts are underway to minimize the human factor in the examination process, and work is being done to help legalize those already in South Korea illegally.

The leadership also emphasizes the importance of compliance with existing laws and regulations for both those wishing to migrate and those already working in South Korea.

"If our citizens are deported from South Korea, their children will not be able to visit the country in the future. Their family members and close relatives will also be denied visas. Therefore, it’s crucial that our citizens comply with the laws. By learning the language, their opportunities will expand significantly," warned Azimjon Khusanov, deputy director of the agency.