South Korea’s foreign population hits record high, including nearly 100,000 from Uzbekistan

As of June 2025, the number of foreigners living in South Korea has reached a record 2.73 million, with Chinese nationals making up one-third of that figure.

Photo: AP

According to official data, by the end of June there were 1.56 million registered foreigners in the country, along with 552,419 individuals of Korean ethnicity holding foreign citizenship. In addition, over 620,000 people are temporarily residing in South Korea on short-term visas, mostly for tourism purposes.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreigners in the country hit 2.52 million for the first time in 2019. However, that figure fell to 1.96 million in 2021. By the end of 2023, the number had rebounded to 2.65 million, indicating a return to growth.

An ethnic breakdown shows that Chinese nationals make up the largest share, with 972,176 people (35.6%), followed by:

Vietnamese – 341,153
Americans – 196,664
Thai nationals – 173,710
Uzbeks – 98,457

About half of all foreigners reside in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, while the rest are mainly located in the central Chungcheong Province and the southern regions. Nearly 50% of the foreign population is aged between 20 and 39.

Roughly 20% of migrants are in South Korea on F-4 visas, intended for overseas Koreans. Another 12% are in the country on E-9 work permits, designated for unskilled foreign laborers. Others hold various visa types, including F-5 (permanent residency), D-2 (student), and B-2 (tourism) visas.

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