Four Malaysians Claim Unfair Denial of Entry into South Korea
Four Malaysians have come forward, recounting their harrowing experience of being unfairly denied entry into South Korea and detained for nearly 10 hours before deportation. In a viral social media post, @iffahhannani_ shared the group's ordeal, highlighting the inconsistency and unfairness of the process.
The group, consisting of nine members, arrived at Incheon International Airport in the early morning. Despite possessing all necessary documents, including the Korean electronic travel authorization (K-ETA), a complete itinerary, accommodation bookings, and even cash and credit cards, they were taken aside and denied entry without explanation. The K-ETA, which allows Malaysians to stay in South Korea for 90 days, was seemingly ignored by the immigration officers.
The affected travelers were held for almost 10 hours before being informed of the rejection of their appeal at 3 p.m. When asked for reasons, the officers responded with a vague 'It's their privacy.' This response, along with their rude and dismissive attitude, left the travelers feeling disrespected and unprofessional.
The financial losses incurred by the group due to flight changes, non-refundable stays, and prepaid activities amounted to a significant sum of RM4,000 to RM5,000. Strikingly, the other five members of the travel group, who carried identical documents and had similar bookings, were allowed entry, suggesting an inconsistent and biased approach.
This incident has sparked concern among Malaysians, with many sharing similar experiences in the comment section. @kastanarts urged the group to lodge a formal complaint, emphasizing the importance of addressing such discourtesy, disrespect, and discrimination. @lauraboin added that Malaysia's visa-free access to South Korea should not be taken for granted and called for a formal complaint to the relevant authorities.
Furthermore, @kyrieazry shared a similar experience, where he was subjected to profiling and unnecessary searches despite having all the required documents. He emphasized that travelers with complete documentation should not be treated with suspicion and profiling.
The Malaysian traveler, @iffahhannani_, called on the Foreign Ministry to address this matter with South Korean authorities and improve support mechanisms for citizens facing foreign immigration issues. She hopes that South Korea will address the inconsistency and that Malaysian embassies will enhance their support systems to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
