Delivery firm allegedly traded info on illegal drivers at rival agencies to protect its own workers
The Justice Ministry is investigating claims that a Gwangju immigration employee "spared" a local delivery firm in exchange for tips on illegal foreign workers at other companies.
Motorcycle couriers deliver products around Pyeonghwa Market at Dongdaemun, Jung District, central Seoul.YONHAP
A Gwangju Immigration Office employee allegedly received information on foreign delivery workers suspected of working illegally from a local delivery agency in exchange for excluding the company from enforcement, according to information obtained by JoongAng Ilbo on Wednesday, raising questions over a possible quid pro quo.
The information reportedly included the names, nationalities and motorcycle license plate numbers of foreign delivery workers suspected of working illegally at other delivery agencies.
Foreign nationals must hold visas that permit employment in Korea, such as an F-2 resident visa, F-5 permanent resident visa or F-6 marriage migrant visa, to work as delivery drivers. International students on D-2 visas and language trainees on D-4 visas are not permitted to work for delivery companies.
The Ministry of Justice conducted an intensive nationwide crackdown on foreign nationals working illegally as delivery drivers from January through May. Authorities caught 734 foreign nationals and cited 16 delivery companies for violations of Articles 17 and 18 of the Immigration Act, which govern the scope of activities permitted for foreign nationals and restrictions on their employment.
The number of foreign nationals caught was roughly 11 times the 67 recorded throughout 2025.
Seoul accounted for the largest number with 282, or 39 percent, followed by Suwon, Gyeonggi, with 172, or 23 percent; Daejeon with 43, or 6 percent; Incheon with 40, or 5 percent; and Cheongju, North Chungcheong, with 29, or 4 percent. Gwangju ranked near the bottom with 14, or 2 percent.
Employees walk into the Ministry of Justice building in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi.NEWS1
The Justice Ministry ordered 68 of those caught to leave Korea, and imposed fines ranging from 1 million won ($719) to 10 million won per person on 643 others.
The suspected ties between the immigration office and the delivery agency came to light after a recording of a March 24 phone call was made public. The immigration employee had placed the call to the delivery agency owner during the ministry’s intensive crackdown.
“We received a report specifically asking us to catch one of the foreign delivery workers you have working for you,” the employee said.
“Leave that worker alone,” the owner said. “The whole reason I keep giving you information is so you’ll spare that worker.”
Delivery drivers are seen in Seoul on June 2, 2025.NEWS1
The owner then offered something in return.
“Let me know if you need more [workers at other delivery companies] to add to your enforcement numbers,” the owner said.
“I always need them,” the employee said. “We’re in the middle of a major crackdown.”
“I’ll try to find one or two,” the owner said. “I’ll have some good news for you this week.”
As allegations of collusion mounted, the Justice Ministry launched an internal investigation. The probe reportedly extends beyond the employee involved to the entire regional enforcement team.
“There is nothing wrong with receiving information from a company, but it would be a problem if the company was excluded from enforcement,” a Justice Ministry representative said. “We will take follow-up measures, such as disciplinary action, depending on the findings of the investigation.”
Migrant worker advocacy groups call for an investigation by the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea during a press conference outside the Gwangju Immigration Office in Seo District, Gwangju, on Aug. 18 over alleged collusion between the office and a local delivery agency.YONHAP
Local civic groups are now calling on the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea to investigate the alleged ties between the immigration office and the delivery agency.
Civic groups advocating for migrant workers’ rights held a press conference outside the Gwangju Immigration Office on Tuesday.
“We condemn the Ministry of Justice for failing to properly investigate the allegations for more than four months after receiving the tip in April,” the groups said. “Authorities must investigate enforcement practices at immigration offices nationwide and put measures in place to prevent this from happening again.”
The groups also raised concerns that the fallout could be falling on the wrong person.
“Transferring the foreign delivery worker to the Seoul Immigration Office before even determining the employee’s responsibility could be seen as an attempt to ‘cut off the tail,’” the groups said. “We are also concerned that the worker could face investigation and deportation proceedings without adequate legal assistance.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
