Russians on boats turned away from Korea

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Russians on boats turned away from Korea

Published: 12 Oct. 2022, 16:39 Updated: 12 Oct. 2022, 17:11

The first of the boats from Russia that requested permission to disembark passengers in Busan. The yacht's passengers were refused entry into the country on Oct. 1 and the boat departed Korea on Oct 11. [OFFICE OF REP. AN HO-YOUNG]

More than 20 Russians on four boats have been denied permission to enter Korea over the past three weeks, raising concerns that the country is becoming a destination for men fleeing Moscow's military mobilization.

According to the office of Rep. An Ho-young of the liberal Democratic Party (DP), Coast Guard records show four boats from Russia docked in South Korean ports in the past 12 days. There was also one passenger boat that entered the country’s waters, but did not dock at a port.

The first boat, a 17-ton yacht with 10 people aboard, entered South Korean waters on Oct. 1.

The first boat was spotted in the East Sea at 8:52 a.m. that day and requested permission to dock in Busan to allow passengers to disembark there.

Immigration authorities denied all 10 onboard permission to enter the country, citing their lack of a verifiable travel purpose.

Russian nationals are allowed visa-free entry to South Korea, but permission to enter the country can be denied by immigration officials.

The boat eventually docked in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, north of Busan, before setting out to sea again at 5 p.m. on Oct. 11 with all of its passengers.

The second boat was a 6-ton yacht that arrived in South Korea on Oct. 1, according to the Coast Guard.

The boat requested permission to dock in Sokcho at 9:40 a.m. to allow six passengers aboard to disembark. Immigration also refused them permission.

The boat set sail for the port of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East on Oct. 5, but was forced to make a stopover on Ulleung Island due to adverse weather and dangerous sea conditions before finally departing South Korean waters on Oct. 11.

According to the Coast Guard, one of the five boats from Russia is still docked in Pohang after being discovered at sea by a patrol boat on Oct. 11. It entered the port on Oct. 4, but all four individuals aboard have been denied permission to disembark.

A press release from An’s office on Tuesday said that a total of 23 Russian nationals aboard the four boats requested permission to disembark and enter Korea as tourists.

Only two were granted entry into the country on account of their previous immigration records.

In a statement carried by his office, Rep. An raised concerns that more and more Russians could try to enter Korea in light of the ongoing mobilization and war in Ukraine.

“It is likely that Korea is becoming an intermediate stopover as more people attempt to escape Russia,” An said, adding it was “urgent” for the government to come up with measures to handle a potential influx of men fleeing mobilization, “such as dedicated procedures for handling what could turn into a diplomatic and human rights issue.”

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]