S Korea 'to fingerprint all foreigners
South Korea will demand fingerprints from all adult foreign visitors by 2012 to tighten immigration controls and prevent criminals entering the country, officials said on Tuesday.
The justice ministry said a bill to be submitted to parliament next month requires foreigners aged over 17 to provide prints of their index fingers and an identity photograph upon entry.
Those intending to stay more than three months must provide full fingerprints in addition to the photo.
South Korea previously took fingerprints of foreigners intending to stay for more than a year. The requirement was abolished in 2004.
"A database of physical information on foreigners is urgently needed to stop illegal immigrants, criminals and terrorists from entering the country," said Lee Bok-Nam, an immigration official at the justice ministry.
Crimes by foreigners rose nearly fivefold over the past eight years from 4,328 in 2001 to 20,624 last year, JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Tuesday, quoting national police data.
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