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In South Korea, Chinese sign for ‘illegal passports’ sparks phone shop crackdown

A viral video featuring K-pop star Tsuki accidentally exposed a Seoul phone shop advertising phone plans with ‘illegal passports’

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A mobile phone store in the Guro district of Seoul is seen sporting a sign in Chinese offering mobile phone services using “illegal passports”. Photo: Youtube/Workdol
The Korea Times
South Korean police have launched a full-scale inspection of mobile phone retailers across a Seoul district popular with ethnic Koreans from China, following allegations that some stores were advertising phone service activations using fake documents.
The controversy began with a social media video uploaded on July 24 by the channel Workdol, featuring Tsuki of the K-pop girl group Billie on a patrol experience with local officers in Garibong-dong in Guro district.

In the footage, a shop can be seen displaying a sign in Chinese offering mobile phone activations using “illegal passports” – implying that it was selling SIM cards for undocumented migrants, according to the Chosun Biz news website.

The video drew backlash online, with viewers criticising what appeared to be an open promotion of criminal services. The channel later clarified that the store had been reported to the relevant authorities.

To add to the controversy, Garibong-dong, where the video was filmed, is a gathering place for ethnic Koreans from China, according to the Chosun Biz. Numerous criminal activities have been reported in the area, which was a filming location for The Outlaws, a 2017 movie about a war breaking out between local Chinese-Korean gangs.

Commuters use their phones on a train in Seoul. Foreign residents have to produce their passport and “alien registration card” for phone plans. Photo: AFP
Commuters use their phones on a train in Seoul. Foreign residents have to produce their passport and “alien registration card” for phone plans. Photo: AFP

According to the Guro Police Station on Thursday, officers began on-site checks and intelligence gathering at all telecom outlets in the district on Monday, prepared to escalate the investigation if they uncovered any illegal activity.

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