S. Korea mulls fingerprint plan

S. Korea mulls fingerprint plan
By T.D. Flack and Hwang Hae-rym, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, January 4, 2009

South Korea’s Ministry of Justice has proposed a plan to fingerprint all foreigners entering the country, but remains undecided whether members of the U.S. military community will be exempt.

The ministry will submit the revised immigration law to the National Assembly. If approved, fingerprinting will begin in 2010, spokesman Lee Ki-heum confirmed last week.

Lee said no final decision has been made on whether U.S. military community personnel who fall under the status of forces agreement would be exempt when traveling into the country, as they are in nearby Japan.

"We will be thoroughly and carefully reviewing this matter and taking every point into consideration," he said.

The goal is to crack down on illegal immigration and terrorism.


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