Crackdown on Int`l Marriage Brokers Planned

The government said Sunday that it will crack down on crooked international marriage brokers in the wake of the murder of a Vietnamese newlywed in Busan by her Korean husband only seven days after their marriage.

The 47-year-old husband of the 20-year-old woman had received treatment for mental illness numerous times, something unbeknownst to the woman.

Vice Gender Equality and Family Affairs Minister Kim Kyo-shik will preside over an inter-ministerial meeting on the matter Tuesday. Attending will be officials from the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Public Administration and Security Ministry and the Presidential Committee on Social Harmony.

The meeting will discuss raising cooperation between Seoul and the governments of countries from which most foreign spouses in Korea originate, as well as stricter crackdown on illegal matchmaking practices.

Police will conduct a month-long campaign to clamp down on international matchmakers from Monday.

Major irregularities subject to crackdown are operation of a marriage broker without a business license; lending of a license; and provision of falsified personal profiles, including the other party’s marital history and health conditions, to clients.

The Gender Equality and Family Affairs Ministry will prepare detailed regulations, including enforcement ordinances and executive rules, to ensure that a revision bill to the Act on Management of Matchmaking Agencies can take effect in November.

The bill requires marriage brokers to disclose candidates’ personal profiles, including their health and criminal records, when arranging international marriages.

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