The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) today urged Taiwanese not to misuse visa-free entry privileges to engage in illegal activities while traveling overseas.
The appeal followed a rise in the number of Taiwanese arrested in South Korea since the beginning of this year for alleged involvement in telecommunications scams, MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei (蕭光偉) said.
Six Taiwanese have been arrested by South Korean police so far this year in connection with such cases, Hsiao told a weekly MOFA briefing.
Photo: Taipei Times file photo
In the past, similar cases involving Taiwanese typically occurred only every one to two months, he said.
Taiwanese passport holders are allowed visa-free entry to South Korea for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days.
Similar cases have also been reported in Thailand in the past few years, Hsiao said, adding that some Taiwanese who entered visa-free were later found to have traveled to Myanmar or Cambodia to engage in online gambling or telecommunications fraud.
To prevent similar cases, Thai authorities have continued to step up screening of visa-free visitors at border checkpoints, he said.
Visa-free travelers should not engage in illegal activities or activities prohibited under visa-exemption rules, including paid employment, Hsiao added.