134 Fake Asylum Seekers Nabbed

Police have arrested 134 foreigners who falsely sought asylum here since November last year and 37 brokers who helped them.

The number of asylum seekers soared from 1,574 in 2013 to 5,711 last year. But only a few dozen are granted refugee status.

Police attribute the increase despite the low chance of being accepted to the fact that they can legally stay in Korea for up to two years while their applications are processed.