Former migration official accused of taking $90,000 in South Korea job scam as wider fraud network emerges

The most prominent case involves the former head of the Fergana regional branch of the Migration Agency, identified as B. Kh. Leveraging his former official position, the ex-official allegedly swindled eight citizens out of $90,000 by promising them guaranteed passing scores on mandatory language and skills exams, along with subsequent employment placement in South Korea.

A parallel scheme was dismantled in Fergana district, where another individual, A. K., extracted $10,000 from a local resident by claiming to have influential connections inside the Migration Agency who could secure an overseas work placement.

The crackdown exposed similar fraudulent networks throughout the Fergana Valley and central regions. In Yangikurgan district of Namangan region, two suspects were apprehended after extracting $34,200 and UZS 79.3 million from 22 citizens under the pretext of arranging South Korean work visas.

In Jizzakh region, a previously convicted individual, I. A., gained the trust of six applicants and demanded $32,200 for employment services. A separate case in the same region involved R. A., who illegally took $7,000 from a victim after promising swift relocation to South Korea. Meanwhile, in Farish district of Jizzakh, a suspect named I. Kh. was detained for taking $4,000 from an applicant for identical false promises.

Law enforcement operations in Gulistan and Samarkand yielded similar findings. In Gulistan, a suspect identified as Kh. Kh. was caught receiving $19,000 to send six individuals abroad, while a Samarkand resident, Z. M., was detained after taking $12,500 from a local applicant. Finally, in Gijduvan district of Bukhara region, a previously convicted suspect, B. I., fraudulently obtained $5,600 by convincing an applicant that high-ranking acquaintances could facilitate both enrollment in a South Korean university and a corporate job.

The Prosecutor General’s Office confirmed that criminal proceedings have been initiated against all involved suspects under relevant sections of the Criminal Code, and comprehensive investigative actions are currently underway.