Justice ministry adds 141 immigration posts at Incheon Airport

A rule revision added 141 immigration-control positions at Incheon Airport for passenger screening, automated processing, admission reviews, departure waiting-room operations and repatriation management.

Of the new roles, 84 are for airline-passenger screening, 28 for automated immigration screening, 10 for admission-review work and 19 for a new division. The increase raises the listed staffing total at the Incheon Airport Immigration Office to 2,840 from 2,699.

The changes create a Repatriation Enforcement Division at the Incheon Airport Immigration Office for departure waiting-room operations and repatriation management, and abolish the office's existing departure waiting-room operations team. They also establish a Refugee Referral Review Team to decide whether refugee applications at ports of entry proceed to recognition screening.

The refugee team was created to strengthen refugee-review capacity at ports of entry and ensure fairness and independence.

The team will oversee waiting areas and basic living support, including meals and clothing, for refugee applicants at ports of entry. It will also handle administrative appeals and lawsuits involving decisions not to refer applications to refugee-recognition screening, and collect and analyze application data.

The rule took effect Aug. 11. The refugee team is set to operate through May 31, 2029; unless special provisions are made, its duties will then transfer to the office's First and Second Admission Review Divisions.