Plan to serve airline meals to deportees divides immigration officials

A proposal to provide airline-style meal boxes to foreigners awaiting deportation at Incheon International Airport has divided immigration officials on Sunday. The Incheon Airport Immigration Office is considering the change as a practical option, while front-line officers raise safety and enforcement concerns. The office is also weighing simpler alternatives such as sandwiches and hamburgers.

Those awaiting deportation are currently given bread and drinks supplied by local immigration offices.

The proposed airline-style meal boxes would cost 6,910 won, or about $5, each.

Front-line officers said utensils could be used as weapons and warned that food could spoil in the departure waiting area.

Some officials argued that giving nearly 7,000-won meals to undocumented migrants could weaken the message of strict immigration enforcement.

Published Sep 28, 2026 7:00 am KST

A proposal to upgrade meals for foreigners awaiting deportation at Incheon International Airport has divided immigration officials, with front-line officers raising safety concerns and some questioning whether better food is appropriate for those ordered to leave Korea for violating the law.

According to immigration authorities, Sunday, the Incheon Airport Immigration Office under the Ministry of Justice is considering providing in-flight meal boxes to foreign nationals awaiting deportation through the airport.

Foreign nationals ordered to leave the country are generally transferred to Incheon International Airport after local immigration offices confirm their illegal stay and complete the necessary procedures. After that, they remain in a designated departure waiting area until their flights.

Those awaiting deportation are currently provided with bread and drinks supplied by local immigration offices. The Incheon Airport Immigration Office is now seeking to provide meals directly, replacing the basic food with airline-style meals, considering them the most practical option.

The office views that those facing deportation should receive a decent meal before leaving the country, with the 6,910 won ($5) airline-style meals seen as a reasonable option in terms of quality, airport security and delivery procedures, as well as accommodating different cultural and dietary needs.

Airline-style meals are already provided in some cases to foreign nationals awaiting repatriation after being denied entry for failing to adequately explain the purpose of their visit.

The Incheon Airport Immigration Office is now seeking customs approval to provide the same meals to deportees in the departure waiting area.

The proposal, however, has divided immigration officials whether foreign nationals ordered to leave Korea for violating the law should receive the same meals as travelers who are simply denied entry.

Safety is the primary concern raised by front-line officers. They warn that utensils provided with the meals could be used as weapons.

Such concerns are heightened by the fact that the deportees include not only undocumented migrants but also foreign nationals with criminal records who are awaiting removal after serving prison sentences in Korea.

Concerns have also been raised about the risk of food spoiling in enclosed spaces such as the departure waiting area.

Others argue that providing meals costing nearly 7,000 won each to undocumented migrants could send the wrong message and undermine the strict enforcement of immigration law.

The Incheon Airport Immigration Office noted that the government remains responsible for the custody and welfare of deportees until they board their flights and therefore they need to be fed adequately during that period.

While reviewing the boxed meal plan, the office is also considering simpler alternatives such as sandwiches and hamburgers, given the limited facilities in the waiting area. With no tables or other furnishings available, deportees would have to eat boxed meals on the floor if the plan goes ahead.

周日，一项向在仁川国际机场等待遣返的外国人提供航空餐盒的提议引发了移民官员的分歧。仁川机场移民局认为此举切实可行，而一线官员则提出了安全和执法方面的担忧。该局也在考虑提供三明治和汉堡等更简单的替代方案。

目前，等待遣返的人员可获得当地移民局提供的面包和饮料。

拟议中的航空式餐盒每个售价为 6910 韩元，约合 5 美元。

一线警员表示餐具可能被用作武器，并警告说出发候机区的食物可能会变质。

一些官员认为，向无证移民提供价值近 7000 韩元的餐食可能会削弱严格执行移民法的力度。

发布于2026年9月28日 上午7:00（韩国标准时间）

一项旨在提升仁川国际机场等待遣返的外国人餐食质量的提议，引发了移民官员的分歧。一线官员提出了安全方面的担忧，一些人质疑，对于因违反法律而被勒令离开韩国的人来说，更好的食物是否合适。

据移民部门消息，周日，隶属于法务部的仁川机场移民局正在考虑向在机场等待遣返的外国公民提供机上餐盒。

被勒令离境的外国公民，在当地移民局确认其非法居留并完成必要手续后，通常会被送往仁川国际机场。之后，他们会在指定的候机区等候，直到登机。

目前，等待遣返的人员由当地移民局提供面包和饮料。仁川机场移民局正寻求直接提供餐食，以航空餐取代基本食物，认为这是最切实可行的方案。

该办公室认为，面临遣返的人在离开该国之前应该得到一顿像样的饭菜，而6910韩元（5美元）的航空餐在质量、机场安检和配送程序方面，以及满足不同的文化和饮食需求方面，都是一个合理的选择。

在某些情况下，一些外国公民因未能充分解释其访问目的而被拒绝入境，等待遣返，目前已获得航空公司提供的餐食。

仁川机场出入境管理处目前正在寻求海关批准，以便在出发候机区向被遣返人员提供同样的餐食。

然而，该提议在移民官员中引发了分歧，即因违反法律而被勒令离开韩国的外国公民是否应该与被拒绝入境的旅客获得同样的餐食。

安全是前线警员最关心的问题。他们警告说，随餐提供的餐具可能被用作武器。

更令人担忧的是，被驱逐者不仅包括无证移民，还包括在韩国服刑后等待遣返的有犯罪记录的外国公民。

人们也对封闭空间（例如出发候机区）内食物变质的风险表示担忧。

另一些人则认为，向无证移民提供每份价值近 7000 韩元的餐食可能会发出错误信号，并削弱移民法的严格执行。

仁川机场出入境管理处指出，政府仍需对被驱逐者负责，直至他们登上航班，因此在此期间需要为他们提供充足的食物。

在审查盒饭方案的同时，考虑到候审区设施有限，办公室也在考虑更简单的替代方案，例如三明治和汉堡包。如果该方案得以实施，由于没有桌椅或其他家具，被遣返者将只能在地板上吃盒饭。