From the data released by the government on Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30, we have selected four items related to foreign resident management, basic livelihood security, and support for veterans. This information is for international students, business owners employing foreigners, households eligible for benefits, and families of war veterans.
Today’s Key Highlights in 3 Lines
- If international students are caught working illegally in restricted sectors such as delivery services or adult entertainment, the disciplinary standards will be strengthened so that, in principle, it results in deportation or an order to depart, regardless of the number of offenses.
- A legislative notice has been issued for an Enforcement Decree defining the targets for whom the official in charge may ex officio apply for basic livelihood benefits without the individual’s consent (Law to take effect on January 21, 2027; comments accepted until December 9).
- Legislative notice on the expansion of priority contract targets for lottery sellers to include spouses of war veterans and military/police personnel equivalent to national merit recipients; the Seoul Immigration Office will relocate to the new building in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu.
1. Principle of Deportation for Illegal Delivery Work by International Students; Joint Crackdown on Illegal Foreign Delivery Riders
- What is changing: On October 29, the Ministry of Justice held a meeting of the “Working Sub-Committee on Border, Residence, and Safety” under the Foreigner Policy Committee—alongside the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Korean National Police Agency, and the Korea Coast Guard—and announced a pan-government joint response plan.
- Strengthening disciplinary standards for international students: If an international student is caught working illegally in sectors where employment is restricted, such as delivery services or adult entertainment, the disciplinary standards will be strengthened so that, in principle, they result in deportation or an order to depart, regardless of how many times they have been caught.
- Crackdown on the delivery industry: The Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency will strengthen joint crackdowns and expand investigative cooperation regarding organized illegal employment/brokerage by delivery companies, unlicensed driving, and the fraudulent use of accounts under other people’s names. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will receive information on illegal employment violations and disciplinary actions from immigration authorities and take measures against delivery platform operators that meet the requirements for fines under the 「Act on the Development of the Living Logistics Service Industry」. The establishment of a delivery worker identity verification system will also be pursued.
- Regional crackdowns: Immigration offices (and branch offices) nationwide will conduct intensive crackdowns on immigration offenses targeting 69 areas and businesses of concern regarding public safety; in the Jeju region, joint crackdowns will be conducted on illegal stay, illegal employment, brokers for employment brokerage, and unauthorized departures.
- Who it applies to: International students (D-2 students, D-4 language trainees, etc.), delivery agencies, delivery platform operators, and business owners employing foreigners.
- From when: Agreed upon at the meeting on October 29; the application timing of the strengthened disciplinary standards and the crackdown period ⚠️ to be confirmed in the original text.
- An Administrative Agent’s Note: International students can only work within the scope of their part-time work permit, and since delivery is a restricted sector, their stay could be terminated even after a single violation. Using a delivery account registered under someone else’s name is also subject to crackdown; if you are working part-time, you must first check whether your actual type of work matches the details of your part-time work permit.
- Source: Ministry of Justice and 5 other agencies · Strengthening Pan-Government Joint Response to Prevent Illegal Acts by Foreigners (October 30 Press Release)
2. Specification of Targets for Ex Officio Application of Basic Livelihood Benefits; Legislative Notice of the Enforcement Decree of the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
- What is changing: The Ministry of Health and Welfare has issued a legislative notice for a partial amendment to the 「Enforcement Decree of the National Basic Livelihood Security Act」. This is a follow-up measure following the amendment of the law (Act No. 22087, promulgated on October 20, 2026) which allows social welfare officials to ex officio apply for benefits without the consent of the beneficiary.
- Targets for ex officio application: The scope of individuals for whom the official in charge may ex officio apply for benefits without consent will be specifically defined in the Enforcement Decree (Draft Article 36 of the Enforcement Decree).
- Scope of financial information investigation: When applying ex officio, the targets for whom financial information can be requested from financial institutions, etc., shall be limited to the beneficiary themselves (Draft Article 36-3 of the Enforcement Decree).
- Who it applies to: Households in difficult circumstances who find it hard to apply for benefits themselves, their families, and social welfare officials at the Eup, Myeon, or Dong levels.
- From when: The amended law takes effect on Thursday, January 21, 2027; submission of opinions on the Enforcement Decree from October 30 to December 9, 2026 (Wednesday).
- An Administrative Agent’s Note: While the ex officio application system is intended to reduce the number of households that fail to receive support because they delay applying, eligibility for benefits is determined after an investigation of income and assets. If a family is hesitant to apply, they should first inform the community service center (Eup/Myeon/Dong office) where they are registered, and the specific scope of the targets for ex officio application should be confirmed once the Enforcement Decree is finalized.
- Source: National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative Notice of the Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the National Basic Livelihood Security Act
3. Expansion of Priority Contract Targets for Lottery Agents, Addition of Spouses of War Veterans in Legislative Notice
- What is changing: The Ministry of Planning and Budget has issued a legislative notice for a partial amendment to the “Enforcement Decree of the Lottery and Lottery Fund Act.” This expands the list of persons eligible for priority contracts that lottery operators must endeavor to sign (Article 21 of the Enforcement Decree).
- Spouses of War Veterans: Reflecting the amendment to the “Act on the Honorable Treatment of War Veterans and the Establishment of Organizations for War Veterans” (March 2026), which made spouses eligible for honorable treatment and support, the scope is being expanded from the war veterans themselves to include their spouses.
- Military and Police Personnel Equivalent to Persons of National Merit: Individuals registered as military and police personnel equivalent to persons of national merit and their bereaved families under Article 73-2 of the former “Act on the Honorable Treatment and Support of Persons of National Merit” will be added.
- Who it applies to: Those considering becoming lottery agents among the spouses of war veterans and those registered as military and police personnel equivalent to persons of national merit and their bereaved families.
- From when: Submission of opinions: October 30, 2026 – December 9, 2026 (Wed); Effective date: ⚠️ to be confirmed in the original text
- An Administrative Agent’s Note: To become a priority contract target, you will need documents proving your status as a person eligible for veterans’ benefits; therefore, it is advisable to first check your veterans’ registration status and classification. The recruitment period and required documents for agents follow the announcements made by the lottery trustee.
- Source: National Participatory Legislation Center · Legislative Notice for the Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Lottery and Lottery Fund Act
4. Relocation of the Seoul Immigration Office to the Munjeong-dong New Building, Integration of the 1345 Call Center
- What is changing: The Seoul Immigration Office left the Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu office, which it had used since 1990, and moved to a newly constructed building in the Munjeong-dong Legal Town, Songpa-gu, holding an opening ceremony on October 30.
- Civil Service Space: They announced that the civil service processing space has been expanded to three times the size of the old office to reduce waiting times.
- Integrated Placement: The “1345 Immigration Contact Center” and the “Online Stay/Visa Civil Service Center,” which were previously operated in rented external buildings, have been moved into the new building.
- Who it applies to: Foreigners and overseas Koreans living in the jurisdiction of the Seoul Immigration Office, and corporate representatives who handle stay-related civil services on their behalf.
- From when: Opening ceremony on October 30 (Fri); Changes regarding the road name address of the new building and visit reservations: ⚠️ to be confirmed in the original text
- An Administrative Agent’s Note: If you have made a visit reservation with the Seoul Immigration Office, you must double-check whether the location displayed on your reservation confirmation screen is the new Munjeong-dong building. Foreigners living in Incheon are not affected by this relocation, as their jurisdiction is the Incheon Immigration Office.
- Source: Ministry of Justice · Seoul Immigration Office starts anew after 36 years at the Munjeong-dong New Building (October 30 Press Release)
Deadlines to Watch This Week
- November 2 (Mon): Deadline for submitting opinions on the re-legislative notice of the Enforcement Decree of the Postal Service Special Act (October 26 Briefing)
- December 9 (Wed): Deadline for submitting opinions on the legislative notices for the Enforcement Decree of the National Basic Livelihood Security Act and the Enforcement Decree of the Lottery and Lottery Fund Act
This briefing is a guide organized by the Hwang Yunsang Administrative Agent Office based on public data. Whether these apply to individual cases requires verification with the relevant authorities.