Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has issued a caution to Taiwanese citizens, advising them against exploiting visa-free travel privileges for illegal activities abroad. This warning comes in response to a noticeable increase in the detention of Taiwanese nationals in South Korea since the start of 2026, linked to telecommunications fraud.
According to Focus Taiwan, MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei revealed that six Taiwanese citizens have been apprehended by South Korean authorities this year, all allegedly connected to such fraudulent schemes. This frequency marks a significant change from past incidents, which typically occurred once every one to two months.
Taiwanese passport holders currently benefit from visa-free entry into South Korea for tourism or business purposes, with stays permitted for up to 90 days. However, Hsiao highlighted that similar fraudulent activities have been reported in Thailand. In these cases, some Taiwanese who entered Thailand without a visa were found to have subsequently traveled to Myanmar or Cambodia to partake in online gambling or telecommunications scams.
In response, Thai authorities have intensified their screening processes for visa-free visitors at border checkpoints to curtail such incidents. Hsiao reiterated the importance of adhering to visa-free travel regulations, emphasizing that travelers should refrain from engaging in illegal activities or any actions prohibited under visa-exemption rules, which include engaging in paid employment.