Scams offering seasonal work in Korea are widespread in Vietnam

With the loss of orders and ongoing layoffs at her company, Tran Thi Lan, a garment worker in HCMC, turned to the internet in search of a new job opportunity. Initially uninterested in working abroad, she stumbled upon enticing advertisements for seasonal employment in South Korea.

"The offers seemed too good to pass up," she recalls. "Promises of earning VND40-45 million (US$1,640-1,840) per month with minimal effort seemed like a dream."

At first, all it required was a deposit of VND5 million, with additional costs supposedly to be covered later. The simplicity of the process, coupled with the seemingly small initial investment, persuaded Lan to take a chance.

"I figured, why not give it a shot? Working hard, earning extra income abroad—it sounded appealing."

However, her optimism quickly turned to despair when, shortly after the initial deposit, she was pressured into paying another VND10 million for "overseas worker insurance." Suspecting foul play, Lan sought advice from relatives, only to discover she had fallen victim to a scam.

"They promised everything would be arranged for me to fly to South Korea by February 18th," she laments. "But as soon as I questioned the additional fees, they vanished, leaving me VND5 million poorer."

Despite her disappointment, Lan's experience is not unique. Many others, like Nguyen Manh Toan from Vinh Phuc Province, have also been deceived by false promises of lucrative opportunities in South Korea. Toan, who lost VND70 million ($2,860) to a fraudulent scheme, ruefully admits his failure to verify the legitimacy of the offer.

"My friend assured me I could work in South Korea for 10 months without needing to learn Korean," Toan recalls. "Blinded by trust, I didn't bother to check the details."

Regrettably, Toan's story highlights a common thread among victims—reliance on friends or acquaintances with prior successful experiences, coupled with a reluctance to undergo the necessary procedures.

In light of these scams, authorities in various provinces have issued warnings, urging aspiring workers to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of offers. The Department of Overseas Labor Management emphasizes the importance of contacting official channels, such as the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes.