Faster service at Incheon for foreigners

Foreigners with permanent residency or who have invested large amounts in Korea can use automatic immigration inspection lanes at Incheon International Airport, the Korean Immigration Service of the Ministry of Justice announced.

According to the Justice Ministry, the lanes will be open this week to foreigners who have lived in Korea more than three years after qualifying as permanent residents, or who have invested more than $300 million and stayed in Korea for more than a year.

The ministry said applicants for the service should visit the immigration office at the third floor of Incheon International Airport, get their identities verified and register their fingerprints and pictures.

The ministry said applicants must also have clean criminal records for the previous three years and carry a machine-readable passport (MRP), which contains a computer chip with biometric data on individuals.

“We hope to improve international competitiveness . . . by adopting the system.” said an official at the Justice Ministry. The number of foreigners who qualify is expected to be about 13,000.

“We are planning to install lanes in Gimpo International Airport this November,” the ministry said.

By Kim Hee-jin [heejin@joongang.co.kr]