Uzbek students' deportation isn't our fault, Justice Ministry says

Hanshin University holds its matriculation ceremony in March. [HANSHIN UNIVERSITY]

The Justice Ministry denied Hanshin University's accusations that it is at fault for the deportation of 22 Uzbek international students and that it failed to provide the university with correct information on visa requirements.

"It is not true that the [deported] international students failed to meet minimum savings requirements because the Justice Ministry gave them the wrong information," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Nov. 27, the university staff boarded 23 Uzbek students in the school's Korean language program onto a bus, dropped them off at Incheon International Airport and told them to leave the country or face the authorities, according to the Hankyoreh, a Korean media outlet, on Dec. 12.

All but one student left the country.

The university had said the students left the country voluntarily, saying they had to leave because they failed to meet the minimum account balance requirement needed to maintain their student visas or faced dismissal due to academic penalties or criminal charges.

However, it issued an apology over the matter on Friday.

The Hankyoreh on Tuesday quoted a Hanshin University official as saying the Justice Ministry told the school the students needed 10 million won ($7.700) in their bank account for at least a day to maintain their visa status.

In reality, the requirement stipulates that students need to maintain the balance for three months.

Most Uzbek students withdrew their money before the three-month period due to the misinformation and lost their visa status.

The university official interviewed for the article also said that the Justice Ministry acknowledged its error and issued the students a certificate of visa issuance.

The ministry denied the university official's accusations in a statement.

"An immigration officer explained the minimum savings requirements to [the university's staff] in May," the ministry said. "Such requirements were also explained to the staff on multiple occasions when they visited in mid-August and late August."

The ministry added that the immigration officer specifically mentioned that international students applying to universities in the greater Seoul area, which include Hanshin University, need 10 million won in their bank account and that the Uzbek students need to maintain the balance for at least three months.

"When the Pyeongtaek branch of the ministry's Suwon Immigration Office was going to deny students' visa applications, the university demanded the office issue a certificate of visa issuance because [the university] carefully screens inbound students and that its office of international affairs can function without problems," the ministry said.

"The Pyeongtaek office issued certificates of visa issuance [for the students] only on condition [the university will] submit proof that the students maintained a balance of 10 million won or more in their accounts for at least three months after they enter Korea."

The ministry further added that there is an ongoing investigation into the case and that it will take any measures it finds to be necessary.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]