Reason : The Justice Ministry insists on scanning your fingerprints and face when you wait in line to have your passport stamped before you are allowed entry into the country. If you want to kick up a fuss about the tedious and inconvenient biometric scanning procedures, be prepared to be refused admission into the country.
Actually, biometric scanning isn't a new thing in RoK - it has been applied to those entering the country from places regarded as high-risk ( in the eyes of the Korea Immigration Service) since September, 2010 as well as to long-term staying foreigners. Besides, those used to travelling a lot around the world should already be familiar with such inconveniences as biometric scans have been part of entry procedures in the US, Japan and the EC in one way or another for some time already. However, security measures are being tightened ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit which will be held in Seoul early next year.
According to one source, "Biometric scanning will be conducted in 11 different languages including English, Chinese and Japanese. The process potentially could double the amount of time that it takes to pass through immigration. At the immigration desk, foreigners entering the country for the first time will have both index fingers and their faces scanned as part of the Justice Ministry’s Biometric Identification System."
Make sure your MP3 or IPad batteries are fully charged before you join the long lines at the immigration counters in Korea. If not, pack a novel and look upon the occasion as an opportunity to practise patience. As for those in tour groups, good luck and do consider solo travel to Korea in the future!
sources:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/27/2011122701407.html
http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20111226000712
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/12/27/0200000000AEN20111227006700315.HTML?source=rss
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=6830
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmT2vkdGi0&feature=player_embedded
