FIRST ON RADAR: Local travel agency suspended after Filipino tourists ditch South Korea tour group

South Korea has suspended International Journeys’ accreditation for group e-visa applications for one month after two Filipino tourists allegedly abandoned an organized tour upon arriving at Incheon International Airport.

The travel management company said the passengers collected their luggage, left the airport without joining the rest of the tour group, and stopped responding to communications.

International Journeys warned that the suspension could lead to further sanctions and affect other designated travel agencies, as Korean tour operators may impose stricter requirements on Filipino visitors.

The consequences could extend to legitimate tourists and workers in the travel industry if stricter screening discourages bookings or disrupts tour operations.

South Korea remains a major destination for Filipinos, with 615,141 visitors from the Philippines recorded in 2025. Another 454,007 Filipinos visited from January to August 2026, up 16.1% from the same period a year earlier, according to South Korean tourism data.

However, immigration violations remain a concern, as South Korea recorded 13,594 Filipinos classified as undocumented residents in 2025, representing 3.8% of its total undocumented foreign population, based on Ministry of Justice figures.

The figure covers Filipinos with irregular immigration status and does not mean that all of them entered the country as tourists or overstayed their visas.

Repeated cases of unauthorized stays can lead authorities to impose stricter screening, making travel more difficult for Filipinos who comply with immigration rules.

South Korea’s group e-visa system allows eligible groups of at least three tourists to apply through designated travel agencies, making accreditation an important requirement for businesses offering organized tours.