Fake Marriages: A Growing Concern in South Korea

In South Korea, cases of foreign nationals resorting to “fake marriages” to secure residency permits are becoming increasingly common. The recent incident highlights this troubling trend. Three individuals were fined for conspiring to register a fictitious marriage to assist a Thai woman in obtaining legal residency.

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The Scheme Unfolds

Defendant A met C, a Thai national illegally residing in Korea, through his Thai wife. A proposed a deal, stating that for 20 million won, he could arrange for C to marry a Korean citizen and secure a visa. C enthusiastically accepted the offer. A then approached B, an acquaintance, and offered him 5 million won to participate in the sham marriage. B also agreed, and thus, the trio conspired to obtain residency through this deceptive means.

On September 4, 2017, the defendants submitted a marriage registration form at the Gwangju Gwangsan District Office despite having no genuine intention of marriage. Unaware of the fraud, the official input false information into the public records system, resulting in violations of laws regarding false public documents.

Extending the Deception

Subsequently, the defendants presented falsified marriage certificates and residency documents to the Gwangju Immigration Office on three separate occasions (December 12, 2018; December 18, 2019; and November 12, 2021), extending C’s residency status. This blatant misconduct violated immigration laws outlined in Articles 94, 17-2, and 26.

Legal Consequences

The court imposed the following fines on the three defendants:

Defendant A: 10 million won
Defendant B: 10 million won
Defendant C: 6 million won

Should any of them be unable to pay, they would face a day in a labor facility for every 100,000 won owed. The court noted, “Fake marriages and false registrations undermine the integrity of the family registration system and cause significant disruption to the country’s immigration control efforts,” deeming their actions particularly egregious. However, considering that the defendants acknowledged their crimes and expressed remorse, they received leniency through monetary penalties.

A Serious Deception

This incident is not merely a case of “fake marriage;” it represents a significant act of fraud exploiting public record systems. Engaging in such underhanded tactics to acquire residency permits is a criminal offense. Furthermore, those who facilitate or assist in these actions, including Korean nationals, will also be prosecuted as accomplices.

Such events raise important questions about the integrity of immigration processes and the need for vigilance against fraudulent practices in South Korea.