Malaysians are falling victim to illegitimate websites while applying for the Korean Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA), resulting in substantial overpayments despite official warnings.
While the legitimate K-ETA costs only 10,000 won (US$7.50) and is valid for three years, individuals have reported paying as much as RM478 (US$100) through unauthorised third-party platforms.
South Korean authorities have consistently cautioned against using fraudulent sites for K-ETA applications.
In an interview with The Star Malaysia, Sharifah Naqiyah Afiqah shared that she selected a seemingly official website that appeared at the top of search results. She realised the exorbitant charge of RM478.24 only after receiving an email receipt. Kartini, another victim, paid US$99 for the K-ETA, believing the site was legitimate until discovering the actual cost later.
The South Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur has been raising awareness and advising travellers to use the official K-ETA website (www.k-eta.go.kr) or the mobile app (K-ETA).
The embassy's notice warns against non-official K-ETA websites illegally collecting higher fees.
In 2022, Malaysia ranked among the top 10 countries contributing to South Korea's inbound tourism, recording about 100,000 arrivals.