31 Chinese nationals caught after illegally entering S. Korea via Taean coast

Since 2019, over 30 Chinese nationals have been apprehended in South Korean waters for attempting to illegally enter the country, according to the Coast Guard. From September 2019 to May 2023, 31 individuals were caught off the coast of Taean County, situated about 100 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The first arrest occurred in September 2019, when three Chinese nationals were intercepted aboard a rubber boat near Taean's beach.

Another group of eight was apprehended in May 2022 after arriving in the county aboard a 4.3-meter-long boat.

The latest incident, reported on May 25, 2023, involved a Chinese dissident named Dong Guangping, who was caught in waters off Taean. Dong, who had been imprisoned multiple times in China, was later permitted to depart South Korea. The New York Times revealed that Dong had ultimately made his way to Canada in June.

According to Coast Guard officials, 25 of the 31 Chinese nationals had previously worked in South Korea. Most of them had been deported for overstaying their visas and subsequently attempted to re-enter the country illegally due to the lack of viable options for returning. Most of these illegal entry attempts occurred between April and May, or September and October, when sea conditions are generally calmer, facilitating easier navigation.