Uzbekistan Busts Korea Job Visa Scam Network

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan Dismantles Fraud Network That Extracted Over $196,000 From Korea-Bound Job Seekers

Uzbek law enforcement has arrested multiple suspects across at least eight regions for running elaborate schemes that defrauded hundreds of citizens seeking work and study opportunities in South Korea.

The operations, conducted by the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, targeted individuals who collected advance payments from job-seekers under false promises of securing South Korean work permits, study visas, and employment placements — in some cases claiming insider connections with government officials.

The cases by the numbers:

The most significant fraud involved a previously convicted individual in the Fergana region who allegedly collected $196,000 from 46 victims, while separately taking a $4,000 advance as part of a broader scheme promising to place 10 people in South Korea for a total fee of $55,000.

In the Khojeyli district of Karakalpakstan, a suspect was detained in the act of receiving a $5,000 advance payment — part of a promised $10,250 total — after claiming he could secure Korean employment through official contacts.

Across six additional regions — including Samarkand, Andijan, Syrdarya, and Navoi — suspects were found charging victims between $1,000 and $12,000 per person for fraudulent visa and employment facilitation services.

Criminal cases have been opened in all identified instances, with investigations ongoing.

The crackdown comes amid sustained demand from Uzbek citizens for legal pathways to South Korea, one of the most sought-after labor migration destinations in the region. South Korea operates an official Employment Permit System (EPS) for Uzbek nationals, but limited quota slots and competitive selection processes have historically created fertile ground for fraudsters exploiting the gap between demand and legal access.

Authorities did not confirm the total number of suspects detained across all regions or the aggregate sum defrauded.