South Korean Man, 72, Arrested After 26 Years of Illegal Overstay Following Illegal Entry With Brother's Passport
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Shizuoka Prefectural Police announced on August 27, 2026 that it had arrested Mun Jong-gi, 72, an unemployed South Korean national living in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control Act (illegal overstay). According to a report by TV Asahi's ANN, the suspect is believed to have illegally entered Japan in 1993 using his brother's passport and remained in the country after his short-term stay visa, valid for 15 days, expired. He is suspected of having overstayed illegally for roughly 26 years, counting from when the crime of illegal overstay was established in Japanese law in 2000.
The suspect reportedly lived under the Japanese name "Shoichi Morita" and supported himself through day-labor jobs. He evaded detection for a long period, and the case is believed to have come to light through some subsequent development.
Current status: The specific circumstances that led to his detection, and whether the case will be referred for prosecution, remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.