Unfortunately very normal.
Visitor visas are like insurance - very cheap to get life assurance if you're a 20 year old teetotal, non-smoking gym fanatic (but grief, you wouldn't be much fun on a night out), not so cheap if you're 26 stone drinking chain smoking deep fried mars bar fan in his 50's.
So you don't even need a visa if you want to visit and you're south Korean as it's thought you have little reason to overstay - but try getting one if you live in a hut in Swaziland!
I know how it feels, but what can you do
