Jeju Island authorities are searching for 38 Vietnamese tourists who went missing during a trip to the southern resort island, according to a report by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
The tourists were part of a group of around 90 visitors who arrived on Jeju Island on November 14 via a chartered VietJet Air flight. The group was participating in a scheduled tour, but 38 individuals disappeared at the final stop of the itinerary and failed to board their return flight.
Jeju Island permits visa-free stays for foreign visitors for up to 30 days. However, the missing tourists will be classified as illegal migrants if they do not return or report their whereabouts by December 14.
Local immigration officials have been reviewing surveillance footage in an effort to trace the missing individuals. Investigations are ongoing.
This incident highlights growing concerns over visa-free travel policies and potential misuse by those seeking to remain in South Korea illegally.