Filipino caregivers arrive at Incheon International Airport, Aug. 6, to participate in Korea's pilot project to supply foreign workers for child care. Two of them who left their workplaces without permission last month will soon be deported and may be banned from reentry into Korea, the Ministry of Justice told The Korea Times. Joint Press Corps

Two Filipino domestic workers who left their workplaces without permission last month will soon be deported and may be banned from entering Korea again, according to the Ministry of Justice.

In a recent response to inquiries from The Korea Times about the workers, who arrived in Seoul with 98 others in August to participate in the city government's pilot program to introduce foreign care workers, the ministry said the two will be sent back to the Philippines for violating Korea's Immigration Control Law.

The two had been out of contact after leaving their accommodation in mid-September and were caught in Busan about three weeks later.

"The two are now subject to deportation orders for violating section 43 of the law. They are expected to be deported as soon as the process is completed," a ministry representative said. "Also, whether they should be on the list of people barred from entering the country is currently under review. In principle, those who are deported are restricted from obtaining a Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance."

The certificates are issued to simplify and accelerate the ministry's permission procedure for foreign workers who need that permission before obtaining their visas.

The ministry did not say how long they would be prohibited from reentering Korea. But they may have to wait for years to try again and could be required to submit extra documents to obtain a permit of entry after that period.

The ministry's statement comes after immigration officers apprehended the two workers in Busan earlier this month. After leaving their accommodation on Sept. 15, they were found to be working at an accommodation facility in the port city's Yeonje District.

Officials did not elaborate on the reasons for the women's decision to move to the southeastern city. According to reports from Philippine media, the women said they had difficulties, including "overwork."

The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers reportedly said it was coordinating with its Korean counterpart to improve the program. It also said the case involving the two workers was an "isolated incident" and it would not affect the program.

Introduced by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to help alleviate Korea's low birthrate crisis with the help of foreign care workers, the program is expected to expand to other cities and regions after a six-month trial period.

When asked whether the ministry developed protocols specifically for the workers participating in the project, the representative said they would be subject to the same rules as other foreign residents here and that its chief focus would be on protecting their human rights and preventing visa violations.

If the Seoul project proves to be successful, the central government plans to issue E-9 visas to an additional 1,200 individuals from the Philippines to provide caregiving services in 2025.

According to the city government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 98 Filipino caregivers were employed by 169 households as full-time or part-time workers as of Oct. 3.