What happened?

A Thai man in his 40s was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for three years, by the Busan District Court, according to Yonhap News, which reported the ruling on October 16. He was convicted of violating the Immigration Control Act after entering Korea despite a permanent entry ban.

How did he get back in?

The man had been forcibly deported in April for staying longer than his permitted period and was barred from re-entering Korea permanently. Prosecutors said he changed his name and used a passport issued under the new name to try again. On July 29, he boarded a cruise ship departing from Shanghai and arrived at the port of Busan.

He was granted temporary shore-leave permission for a sightseeing excursion. However, he did not return to the ship before it sailed at 7 p.m. that day. Instead, he traveled to Seoul and stayed in an officetel in Dongdaemun-gu until July 31.

What is a suspended sentence?

A suspended sentence means the prison term is not served unless the person commits another offense during the suspension period, which here is three years.

For international fans

Cruise passengers who receive shore-leave permission in Busan are generally expected to return to their ship before departure. Travelers who overstay or are subject to entry bans can face serious legal consequences in Korea.