Uzbek students enrolled at a Korean language course at Hanshin University are on a bus heading to Incheon International Airport, Nov. 27. Courtesy of Uzbek students

An official at the Korea Immigration Service is under investigation for his alleged involvement in the forced repatriation of Uzbek students studying at Hanshin University that occurred last November, according to police, Friday.

The official, whose identity remains undisclosed, is suspected of accepting meals, drinks and entertainment outings from Hanshin University officials in exchange for granting entry visas to the Uzbek students who did not meet the necessary criteria.

The official is accused of violating anti-graft laws and abusing his authority.

"We are examining the allegations. We have requested clarification from the Ministry of Justice regarding whether his actions constitute a abuse of power. Since guidelines on issuing visas to international students vary by country and university, we need the cooperation of the justice ministry," an officer at Osan Police Station told The Korea Times.

The potential involvement of the immigration official is noteworthy, particularly considering that the university had forced the Uzbek students to leave, citing their violation of immigration laws.

The reported exchanges between Hanshin employees and the immigration official allegedly took place around 10 times starting from May 2023. This coincided with the university's acceptance of applications from international students for enrollment in their Korean language course for the upcoming fall semester, beginning in September of that year.

At that time, the immigration official was serving as the head of the Pyeongtaek branch of the Suwon Immigration Office in Gyeonggi Province. The branch is responsible for visa matters for foreign students at Hanshin University, which is located in Osan, Gyeonggi Province.

Foreigners wait for the issuance of documents at the Sejongno branch of the Seoul Immigration Office in Seoul in this Feb. 24, 2020 photo. Yonhap

The immigration official, who is said to be currently working at the Gimhae branch of Busan Immigration Office, has denied the allegations.

Local media reports suggested that the official also sought to be employed as a professor at Hanshin University in exchange for issuing visas for Uzbek students. But the police declined to confirm that speculation, saying that the probe is ongoing.

Officials at Hanshin University who were involved in the repatriation process are facing charges such as confinement and extraterritorial abduction, according to the police.

"The decision on referring the university officials and the immigration official to the prosecutors will be made collectively, as they are being handled in a single case," said the police officer, noting that the decision will be made once they receive a response from the justice ministry.

A Hanshin University official in charge of international affairs declined to comment on the matter. The justice ministry said it is cooperating with the police investigation.

On Nov. 27 last year, 22 Uzbek students enrolled at Hanshin University were forcibly repatriated to their home country against their will by university officials. They were instructed to board a bus at the campus, unaware that it was headed to Incheon International Airport, where they were escorted to board a pre-booked flight to Taskent.

The university claimed that the students' departure was necessary to prevent them from losing their legal status, as the students allegedly violated an immigration law mandating foreign students to maintain a balance of 10 million won in their bank deposit accounts for at least three months before their visa approval.

However, the Uzbek students claimed that they were not properly notified about this rule by the university officials prior to obtaining the visa. They also contended their entry visas granting a six-month stay should not have been issued in the first place, if it is true that they had failed to meet bank balance requirements.

Choi Jeong-gyu, an attorney at the law firm Wongok, who represents the Uzbek students, called for a more thorough investigation into the immigration authorities.

"Now that allegations have surfaced regarding the involvement of an immigration official in the case, investigative authorities should thoroughly look into the extent of his involvement and ascertain whether immigration authorities were complicit in the forced repatriation process," Choi said.

Shokirjon Abudkhamidov, the brother of one of many Uzbek students forced to leave Korea, speaks during a press conference at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy building in Jongno District, Seoul, Dec. 21, 2023. Korea Times file

The students and their families, who have filed a collective lawsuit against the university, called for a swift investigation.

"This has been so stressful for us. Twenty two students lost a whole year of their lives. No one can give it back to them," Shokirjon Abudkhamidov, a brother of one of the Uzbek students who were forcibly returned, said, Friday.

"I've been talking with Osan Police Station and lawyers about the process, but things are not working out so well. I hope the probe will be conducted fairly," Abudkhamidov said.