TOKYO: Japanese police have arrested a 72-year-old South Korean man after he allegedly lived in Japan without legal status for more than three decades.
Police arrested Moon Jong-gi in Yaizu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on August 26, 2026.
The investigation began in June after police received information about a suspected illegal resident in Japan.
The inquiry later led authorities to Moon.
He Entered Japan on His Brother’s Passport
According to reports, Moon entered Japan in September 1993.
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He reportedly used his younger brother’s passport to enter the country.
Authorities gave him permission to stay for only 15 days.
However, Moon did not return to South Korea after that period ended.
Instead, he allegedly remained in Japan without legal immigration status.
Police said Moon has admitted the allegations against him.
Authorities are now trying to determine how he managed to remain in Japan for so many years without valid residence documents.
Worked Temporary Jobs for Decades
Local media reports say Moon supported himself through various temporary and daily-wage jobs.
He reportedly took such work while trying to avoid detection by immigration authorities.
Police have not yet disclosed where Moon lived during his long stay.
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They have also not released details about the places where he worked.
The case has attracted attention because Moon appears to have spent about 33 years in Japan.
However, police are referring to about 26 years of illegal residence in connection with the current criminal charge.
Japan Had Nearly 300,000 Overstayers in 1993
Moon entered Japan at a time when the number of visa overstayers was much higher than today.
Japanese Justice Ministry figures reportedly show that about 298,646 people were staying in Japan after their visas had expired in 1993.
By January 2026, that figure had fallen sharply to 68,488.
The decline reflects major changes in Japan’s immigration system and enforcement.
Law Changed in 2000
There is also a legal reason why authorities do not count Moon’s entire stay under the current criminal charge.
Japan changed its immigration laws in February 2000.
After that change, illegal residence became subject to criminal penalties.
Therefore, police are counting the period after the legal change when considering the current charge against Moon.
Authorities are continuing to investigate how he lived in Japan for decades without legal residence status.
They are also examining how he managed to remain outside the attention of immigration authorities for such a long period.
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South Korean Man Arrested After 33 Years of Illegal Stay in Japan
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Japanese police arrest a 72-year-old South Korean man accused of living in Japan illegally for more than three decades after entering on his brother’s passport.
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Japan, South Korea, Moon Jong-gi, Illegal Stay in Japan, Immigration, Japan Immigration, Visa Overstay, Japanese Police, Shizuoka, Yaizu, Tokyo, South Korean Man, Immigration Law, Japan News, World News
