This image, released on Tuesday by the Gwangju office of the Korea Immigration Service, shows its officials and police conducting a raid on a club, where foreign nationals without valid visas were discovered to be working and patronizing, May 11.

A total of 61 foreign nationals living without valid visas to work or reside in Korea have been apprehended at a club catering to foreign customers in Gwangju.

According to police and officials at the city office of the Korea Immigration Service, Tuesday, 61 foreign nationals now face deportation after being apprehended at the club in the city's Gwangsan District on May 11.

Two of them were confirmed to be suspects in pending theft cases, officials said.

In a joint move, immigration officials and police carried out a search-and-seizure operation there after receiving a report that foreign nationals were being hired illegally by the club's Korean owner.

To avert the attention of authorities, the club was operated on a reservation-only basis for identified foreign guests. The owner is expected to be prosecuted on charges of violating immigration Korea's law.

After investigations and necessary paperwork are completed, the apprehended individuals will be deported and banned from re-entering Korea for at least five years.

This comes amid growing calls here to strengthen immigration and visa controls. According to the ministry, the estimated number of foreign residents living in the country without a valid visa grew steadily to reach 420,000 for the first time in 2023. Ten years ago, the number was around 200,000.