– Indonesia is seeking official information from South Korean authorities about alleged visa-services fraud by a broker syndicate following social-media claims of illegal recruitment involving Indonesians on Jeju Island.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said a preliminary assessment by the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul indicated that the matter appeared to concern alleged visa-processing fraud by a broker syndicate. The ministry made the distinction after the case was described on social media as human trafficking.
The alleged fraud had first been reported in June but attracted wider attention after social-media posts described suspected human trafficking in Seogwipo. The posts alleged that Indonesians were involved both in sending people to Jeju and among the victims.
“As a follow-up, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul has been coordinating intensively with the Jeju Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea to obtain official details and verify whether Indonesian citizens were victimized,” Heni Hamidah, the ministry’s director for the protection of Indonesian citizens, said in a statement carried by Antara on Aug. 31.
Hamidah said South Korean authorities had not provided official information because the case remained under review. The number of people involved, the nature of the alleged scheme and whether any Indonesians were victims remain unconfirmed.
Indonesia’s national police were also examining the allegations but had not received a formal report, MetroTV reported, citing Brig. Gen. Nurul Azizah, director of the police division responsible for crimes involving women, children and human trafficking.
The Indonesian Embassy said it would continue coordinating with Jeju Police and South Korea’s foreign ministry and provide an update once verified information becomes available.