Missing Indonesian Tourist in South Korea Sparks Concerns Over Illegal Stays

An Indonesian tourist, Femas Yani Arianto, 22, has gone missing during a guided tour in South Korea, raising concerns about potential illegal overstaying and employment. Femas, from Malang, East Java, reportedly separated from his group on the first night of the tour on June 28, 2026, while in the Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul. His travel agency, Berani Backpacker, became aware of his absence when he failed to meet the group at the designated time and could not be contacted. The agency attempted to report the incident to local police and immigration authorities, but their report was denied according to local regulations. Fariz Ragil Ramadhani, owner of Berani Backpacker, revealed that Femas's disappearance is suspected to be linked to the lure of quick money through illegal work, exploiting loopholes in tourist visas. He noted that the misuse of tourist visas for illegal settlement by separating from tour groups is a common occurrence, though many travel agencies prefer to manage such situations internally. Ramadhani shared the incident on social media, which garnered significant attention and led to contact from other Indonesians in South Korea. He claims to have received information about Indonesian communities that allegedly facilitate undocumented workers, helping them find employment and relocate. This information has reportedly been forwarded to the authorities. Ramadhani cautioned that visa overstays and working without proper documentation carry severe penalties, including deportation and blacklisting, and can negatively impact travel agents and visa operators.

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However, by the appointed time, he failed to show up to the group meeting point and could not be contacted.