The Ministry of Justice reported on Saturday (Aug. 21) that it has uncovered a total of 140 illegal foreign workers in the second round of its special crackdown conducted on 20 August.

The crackdown is intended to protect job opportunities of local low-income laborers who must make their living in the construction market. In the first round of crackdowns on July 30, the ministry uncovered 157 foreign workers.
The ministry said that a daily average of 100 illegal aliens have been deported out of Korea as a result of extensive crackdowns jointly carried out with other institutions including the police. The number of illegal foreign workers who are leaving Korea voluntarily has increased to 130 a day from the usual 50 or 60, it said.
The government has recently granted lenient procedures for illegal aliens to register and legally work under the revised "foreign workforce employment act."