A 15-day trip to Japan turned into a 33-year stay for a South Korean man who has now been arrested at the age of 72. Identified as Mun Jong-gi, the man reportedly entered Japan in September 1993 on a short-term visa and never returned to South Korea after his permitted stay ended. He was arrested by Japanese authorities in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on August 26, 2026, after police received a tip about a suspected illegal resident.
Came To Japan Looking For Better Work; Got Arrested 33 Yrs Later!
According to The Times of India, Mun travelled to Japan hoping to find better-paying work. He allegedly entered the country using his younger brother’s passport and was granted permission to stay for just 15 days.
After his visa expired, instead of heading back to South Korea, he remained in Japan and reportedly supported himself through day labour and other casual jobs. Over the years, he lived in Yaizu and is believed to have used the Japanese name Morita Shoichi. For more than three decades, his stay apparently went unnoticed by authorities.
Mun’s case also dates back to a period when Japan had a much higher number of visa overstayers.
Reports citing Japanese government data state that around 298,646 visa overstayers were recorded in Japan in 1993. By January 2026, that figure had dropped to 68,488.
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How Was He Finally Caught After 33 Years?
The unusual case came to light in June this year, when Japanese police received information about a suspected illegal resident. An investigation followed, eventually leading authorities to Mun.
He was arrested on August 26 for violating Japan’s immigration laws. Police said he has admitted to the allegations, while authorities continue investigating how he managed to remain in the country for so long without legal residency documents.
While Mun reportedly remained in Japan for around 33 years, there is an important legal detail behind the 26-year figure.
Japan’s immigration law was amended in February 2000, after which overstaying became a criminal offence. This means the period being treated as a criminal violation reportedly begins from 2000, rather than from the time Mun first entered Japan in 1993.
So, while his entire stay lasted around 33 years, the alleged criminal period covers roughly 26 years.
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For now, authorities are investigating how the 72-year-old managed to build a life in Japan for more than three decades after entering on a visa meant to last just two weeks.
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FAQs
Who is the South Korean man arrested in Japan after 33 years?
The man has been identified as 72-year-old Mun Jong-gi, who reportedly entered Japan in 1993 on a 15-day short-term visa and remained in the country for more than three decades.
Where was Mun Jong-gi living in Japan?
He was reportedly living in Yaizu, in Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture, when authorities arrested him.
Why is his illegal stay counted as 26 years instead of 33 years?
Although Mun reportedly stayed in Japan from 1993, overstaying a visa became a criminal offence in Japan only after changes to immigration law came into effect in February 2000. Therefore, the criminal period is counted from 2000.