Taiwan Bans "Penguin Girl" Jinny: Influencer Denied Entry, Raising Questions About Gold Card Regulations

The popular South Korean streamer faces a three-year ban after alleged illegal work, sparking debate on visa enforcement in Taiwan.

Taipei, Taiwan – A prominent South Korean influencer known as "Penguin Girl" (企鵝妹) in Taiwan has been barred from entering the country, igniting discussion around work permit regulations. Authorities have cited alleged illegal work performed in 2023 as the reason for the ban.

Jinny, a 32-year-old online personality who captured the hearts of many in Taiwan after her 2023 island-wide livestreaming journey, was reportedly denied entry at the airport despite holding a Taiwan Employment Gold Card. This card is a type of open work permit specifically designed for foreigners who satisfy rigorous eligibility requirements.

During a Twitch livestream on Sunday, Jinny shared with her 1.1 million followers that Taiwanese immigration officials informed her of a three-year ban from entering the country.

She speculated that the ban might be linked to her management of a one-day pop-up store for a video game company in 2023, an activity for which she admitted she did not possess a work permit.

The National Immigration Agency (NIA) of Taiwan released a statement confirming the decision. The statement clarified that the ban was prompted by the Ministry of Labor (MOL) notification on March 25 of this year. The MOL indicated that she had engaged in unauthorized work within Taiwan in 2023.

The NIA specified that the entry ban was imposed following a penalty issued by the Taipei City Government's Department of Labor against the Korean national.

In a parallel case, LeLe Farley (樂樂法利), an American YouTuber, also experienced denial of entry to Taiwan last month. This occurred even though he also possessed a Taiwan Employment Gold Card. Authorities determined that he had performed illegal work in the country towards the end of 2023.

The NIA has verified that LeLe Farley's Gold Card – which he stated he applied for in November 2024 and received in February of this year – was revoked. The revocation was related to his appearances on Taiwanese political commentary shows, and an entry ban remains in effect until further notice.

In both instances, the individuals holding Taiwan Gold Cards were unaware of the revocation of their employment visas until they were denied entry upon attempting to fly into the country. This raises questions regarding communication and clarity in the enforcement of these regulations.