An apparent loophole in the Korean visa system can allow Filipinos to work in the country using religious visa. However, POEA through administrator Jennifer Manalili has warned against such practice. The warning stemmed after the agency started investigating a complaint letter filed by victim Lorie Humaynon against two people identified as Cho Chang Kuy and Oh Gyuk Su.
Cho introduced himself as a pastor of the Kor World International Ministries operating in the Philippines. Oh, on the other hand, who claimed to be the owner of a KI-S factory in Seoul, South Korea, promised Humaynon and 33 other OFW applicants employment in the factory.
The complaint alleged that Cho, who introduced himself as a pastor of the Kor World International Ministries supposedly located here in the Philippines, and Oh, who claimed to be the owner of the KI-S factory in Seoul in Korea, promised Humaynon and 33 other applicants employment in the factory.
Based on the complaint, Oh came to Manila to brief applicants on the work to expect in Korea.
Cho meanwhile allegedly collected a total of P7.5 million from 34 applicants in exchange for the religious visa, but later disappeared with their money and without leaving any contact information.
Manalili said that the POEA has requested the Human Resource Development Service of Korea, which is in charge of the Employment Permit System (EPS) program, to provide information on KI-S and to know if it is participating in the EPS.
As of 2008, the POEA has recorded over 12,000 overseas Filipino workers in the republic, considered one of the world’s most developed countries.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brennwald
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