Gov't tightens grip on illegal foreign delivery riders amid nearly 17-fold surge in cases

South Korea is coordinating several agencies to stop foreign nationals from doing delivery work illegally. The Ministry of Justice is working with transport, labor, police and coast guard authorities. The goal is to enforce immigration and driving rules while closing weaknesses in delivery-platform systems.

Investigations will target organized illegal hiring and brokering, unlicensed driving, and accounts used by people other than their registered holders. Authorities plan a rider identity-verification system and tighter management of delivery agencies. The transport ministry will receive immigration enforcement data and act against platform operators and others subject to fines.

The measures follow 1,132 foreign nationals being caught in illegal delivery work from January through August, compared with 67 during all of last year. Immigration offices will also conduct enforcement in 69 areas and workplaces with security concerns. International students caught in restricted sectors generally face deportation or a departure order.

Illegal delivery work means performing delivery jobs without the immigration status or authorization required for that sector. South Korea allows delivery work only for foreign nationals with certain visas, including F-2 resident, F-5 permanent resident and F-6 marriage immigrant visas. Other foreign residents may therefore violate the rules by delivering.

A second problem involves identity and account use. The article describes riders working through accounts registered to other people. A witness said an account holder could let someone else use the account by sharing the verification number. Delivery partners were also accused of advertising ways for barred foreign nationals to work and receive payment under other names.

The government is responding with joint investigations and stronger identity checks. It will examine illegal hiring, brokering, unlicensed driving and account misuse. International students caught in restricted sectors generally face deportation or a departure order.

Foreign nationals caught working illegally in South Korea’s delivery sector rose sharply. Authorities recorded 67 cases throughout last year. From January through August this year, they recorded 1,132 cases. The article describes that change as about a 16.9-fold increase.

The difference is 1,065 cases between the two reported totals. The comparison is not between equal periods: last year’s figure covers the full year, while this year’s figure covers only January through August. Even so, the eight-month total is already far higher than the previous annual total.

The surge prompted the Ministry of Justice to discuss a joint response with transport, labor, police and coast guard agencies. Planned measures include coordinated crackdowns, identity verification and closer oversight of delivery agencies and platforms. The government also plans to pursue related offenses, including illegal hiring, account misuse and unlicensed driving.

South Korea permits delivery work for foreign nationals with certain visas. The article specifically names F-2 resident, F-5 permanent resident and F-6 marriage immigrant visas. These visa categories determine whether a foreign resident may legally work in delivery.

Student visa holders are treated differently. They are barred from delivery work even when they have a permit for part-time employment. That means a part-time work permit does not override the separate restriction on the delivery sector. The rule concerns the type of work, not simply whether the student has permission to work some hours.

The distinction matters because many caught riders may appear to have some work authorization while still being barred from delivery. The Korea Immigration Service plans tougher penalties for international students working illegally in restricted sectors. In principle, they will face deportation or a departure order regardless of how many times they are caught.

International students face especially serious immigration consequences if they work illegally in restricted sectors such as delivery. The Korea Immigration Service says they will generally receive either a deportation order or a departure order. This applies even though some students may hold permission for other kinds of part-time work.

The article makes the policy clear: student visa holders are barred from delivery work. The planned enforcement targets the mismatch between their visa status and the job they perform. It also addresses delivery arrangements that conceal a rider’s identity, including accounts registered under other people’s names.

Officials plan to tighten penalties and conduct intensive enforcement drives. Immigration offices nationwide will focus on 69 areas and workplaces with security concerns. They will also cooperate with police and local governments over related violations, including illegal paid transport and unlicensed driving. The stated principle is that repeat frequency will not prevent deportation or a departure order.

Shared verification numbers and borrowed accounts can separate the person doing the delivery from the identity recorded by the platform. If the registered account holder gives another person the verification number, that person may be able to use the account. The platform can then see the account holder while a different rider is actually working.

The article gives two concrete examples. A delivery rider testified at a parliamentary audit that others could use an account after its holder shared the verification number. Representative Kim Gi-pyo also cited advertisements from Baemin delivery partners offering consultations and payment under other people’s names to foreign nationals barred from delivery.

Delivery agencies can therefore become a route around visa and identity rules when such arrangements are offered. The government plans investigations into illegal hiring and brokering. It also plans stronger rider identity checks and tighter oversight of delivery agencies and platforms to close these loopholes.

Identity verification matters because delivery work depends on matching a real rider to the account and legal permission recorded for that person. South Korea restricts delivery work by visa category, and authorities are also investigating unlicensed driving. If the platform recognizes only an account, it may miss who is actually delivering.

The article describes the loophole directly. A witness said another person could use an account when its holder shared the verification number. Representative Kim Gi-pyo cited partner advertisements offering work and payment under other people’s names. These arrangements can hide the rider’s visa status and identity from ordinary platform checks.

The government therefore plans a rider identity-verification system and closer oversight of delivery agencies and platforms. Stronger matching could help identify unauthorized workers, prevent account misuse and support enforcement against unlicensed driving. The transport ministry will receive immigration data and take action against platform operators and others subject to fines.