Globalization 
In the era of globalization, goods, capital, information, and technology are moving transnationally, and people are actively crossing borders. In the past, only a select few experienced life abroad, but now, people from diverse backgrounds are crossing borders and exploring new lives. Previously, foreigners staying long-term in South Korea were limited to diplomats, foreign business representatives, U.S. military personnel, and Chinese nationals. However, now the category has expanded to include foreign workers, marriage immigrants, and international students, among others. The number of foreign residents has been continuously increasing, with many expressing their intention to settle, leading South Korea to rapidly transition into a multicultural society.
In response to the flow of globalization and to facilitate smoother human exchanges across borders, the government has signed visa waiver agreements with 115 countries as of the end of 2023. Among these, there are 91 countries that have agreements allowing visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports. Although some agreements are limited to diplomatic or official passports or set specific stay durations, the number of countries where South Korean passport holders can enter without a visa has increased compared to 2017. This includes 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific, 29 in the Americas, 46 in Europe, and 20 in Africa and the Middle East, totaling 115 countries. Furthermore, South Korea designates visa-free entry based on international customs, reciprocity, and national interests. While some countries require diplomatic or official passports or impose different stay periods, 151 countries or regions allow visa-free entry for their nationals. Ordinary passport holders from nine countries in the Asia-Pacific, 32 in the Americas, 43 in Europe, 16 in Africa and the Middle East, and 13 in the Atlantic regions are eligible for visafree entry, whereas 45 countries are open to diplomatic or official passport holders, and 40 additional countries have other visa-related agreements.
The map illustrates the status of both South Korean and foreign entries into South Korea for the year 2023, displayed in terms of departure and arrival points. Foreigners primarily departed from Japan, China, Taiwan, the United States, and Vietnam to enter South Korea. South Korean citizens, on the other hand, departed from South Korea to visit Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, and China. Exchanges with the United States have been active due to the friendly relations established during the Cold War after Korea’s liberation. Additionally, the entry of foreigners from neighboring regions such as East Asia and Southeast Asia into South Korea has been notably vigorous.
The numbers for foreign arrivals from the United States, Japan, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines from 2014 to 2023 show a sharp decline starting in 2020. Due to intensified COVID-19 restrictions on international travel, the number of foreign arrivals from these five countries dropped dramatically from approximately 12.42 million in 2016 to around 530,000 in 2021, a 96% decrease. However, with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in 2022, the number of foreign arrivals began to increase again, reaching about 6.59 million in 2023..
The graph shows the 10-year trends for the top six residence statuses of foreigners entering South Korea. The purpose of residence can be identified by the type of visa, which can be categorized into eight types: Type A (diplomatic, official, and agreement), Type B (visa exemption and tourism), Type C (temporary visit, shortterm visit, and short-term employment), Type D (culture and arts, study, technical training, general training, media coverage, religion, business, investment, trade management, and job-seeking), Type E (professorship, teaching art, research, technical guidance, professional occupation, artistic performance, specific activities, non-specialized employment, and maritime employment), Type F (visiting, residency, accompanying family, overseas Koreans, permanent residency, and marriage immigration), Type G (other), Type H (employment for tourism and visit) Foreigners entered South Korea with the following residence statuses: tourism (B-2), short-term visit (C-3), visa exemption (B-1), overseas Koreans (F-4), visit employment (H-2), and study (D-2). As of 2023, the number of foreign arrivals by residence status was approximately 5.12 million for tourism, 1.92 million for shortterm visits, 1.69 million for visa exemptions, 390,000 for overseas Koreans, 80,000 for visit employment, and 250,000 for study. Recently, the number of foreigners visiting for study purposes has surpassed those visiting for employment, indicating a growing interest in South Korea’s academic sector.
The graph shows trends in the number of South Korean nationals departing by age group from January 2021 to July 2023. In January 2021, there were 50,000 departures, which increased to 2.03 million by July 2023, indicating a continuous upward trend. The primary age group for departures was the middle-aged adults.
which showed the most active movement among South Korean nationals. This was followed by the young adults, older adults, and children/adolescents, all of which also showed significant levels of activity. The high number of departures among the middle-aged is attributed to increased demand for overseas travel within this age group, coupled with greater temporal and financial flexibility.
<drawing, chart> Status of Entry and Exit by Mode of Transportation
The graph shows the modes of transportation used by foreigners and South Korean nationals for entry and exit in December 2023. Approximately 3.33 million individuals entered the country by air, while 110,000 entered through ports. For departures, about 3.39 million individuals left by air, and 120,000 departed through ports. Both foreigners and South Korean nationals primarily used air travel for their entries and exits. Incheon Airport was the main entry and exit point for both groups, followed by Gimhae Airport, Gimpo Airport, and Jeju Airport. When exiting through ports, most traveled through Busan Port, followed by Jeju Port, Incheon Port, and Pyeongtaek Port.
The map displays information on the number of flights departing from the top four airports—Incheon Airport, Gimhae Airport, Gimpo Airport, and Jeju Airport—in 2023. Incheon Airport, the most heavily used airport for both entry and exit in South Korea, has approximately 215 international routes, 330,000 flights, and serves around 55.52 million passengers. Incheon Airport offers numerous routes to international airports worldwide and has the highest passenger traffic. The most frequent route was to Narita Airport, followed by routes to Kansai, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Da Nang.
 Gimhae Airport, the second busiest in terms of passengers, has around 50 international routes, 40,000 flights, and serves about 6.49 million passengers. Most of its routes are to East Asia and Southeast Asia. The route with the most flights was to Fukuoka Airport, followed by routes to Kansai, Da Nang, Narita, and Bangkok. Gimpo Airport has about 10 international routes, 20,000 flights, and serves approximately 3.20 million passengers. Gimpo Airport only provides routes to Japan, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The route with the most flights was to Haneda Airport, followed by routes to Kansai, Hongqiao, Songshan, and Beijing. Jeju Airport has around 35 international routes, 8,000 flights, and serves about 1.19 million passengers. Most of its routes are to East Asia and Southeast Asia. The route with the most flights was to Pudong Airport, followed by routes to Da Nang, Kansai,
Singapore, Hangzhou, and Ningbo.
In 2022, the number of foreign residents in South Korea reached approximately 2.26 million, accounting for about 4.4% of the total population. This represents a significant increase from about 65,000, or 0.15%, in 1990. However, the geographic distribution of foreign residents within the country is uneven. Examining the ratio of foreign residents to the total population by city and district, it is evident that foreign residents are concentrated in areas such as Ansan, Eumseong County, Yeongam County, Jincheon County, Yeongdeungpo District, Guro District, and Geumcheon
District. By province, Gyeonggi-do has the largest number of foreign residents, approximately 750,000, followed by Seoul with 440,000, Incheon with 150,000, Chungcheongnam-do with 140,000, Gyeongsangnam-do with 130,000, and Gyeongsangbuk-do with 100,000. Foreign residents are predominantly concentrated in the metropolitan area, with about 59.4% of the total foreign population residing there.
Among the types of foreign residents in South Korea, foreign workers constitute the largest group, followed by foreign nationals of Korean descent, international students, and marriage immigrants. Foreign workers, foreign nationals of Korean descent, international students, and marriage immigrants are mainly concentrated in the metropolitan areas of Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do.
The graph shows the distribution of foreign residents by nationality, with a significant number from Asia, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. Among them, Korean-Chinese make up approximately 530,000 individuals, or about 31% of the total. This is followed by Vietnamese with 210,000 (12%), Chinese with 200,000 (12%), Thai with 160,000 (10%), and Uzbek with 70,000 (4%). The high proportion of Chinese nationals, mainly of Korean descent (Chosonjok), is attributed to policies encouraging the dispatch of labor due to China’s reform and opening up since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China in 1992, combined with South Korea’s preferential hiring policies for overseas Koreans to address labor shortages in production sectors.
The graph shows the five-year trends for foreign residents from the top six countries. Among foreign residents in South Korea, the largest proportion is of Chinese nationality (Korean-Chinese), followed by Chinese nationals and Vietnamese. Since 2018, the number of Korean-Chinese residents has been around 530,000, while Chinese nationals total approximately 200,000. The number of Vietnamese residents increased from about 170,000 in 2018 to 210,000 in 2022. The United States has around 60,000 residents in South Korea. Russian nationals of Korean descent increased from approximately 19,000 in 2018 to 26,000 in 2022, a 38% rise. Russian nationals, in general, have maintained a number around 20,000.
Foreign Workers
In 2022, the number of foreign workers residing in South Korea was approximately 460,000, accounting for 22% of the total foreign resident population. Foreign workers are most commonly found in Gyeonggi-do, followed by Seoul, Gyeongsangnam-do, Chungcheongnam-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do. When examining the ratio of foreign workers to the total foreign resident population by city and district, the highest percentages were observed in Uljin County, Wando County, Busan Gangseo District, Ongjin County, and Jindo County. Notably, Uljin County and Wando County are regions with high influxes of foreign workers engaged in agriculture and fisheries, with more than half of the foreign residents in these areas being foreign workers.
Looking at the nationalities of foreign workers, the largest groups are from China (Korean-Chinese), Vietnam, Nepal, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Foreign workers from China (Korean-Chinese) tend to be concentrated in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul. Vietnamese and Indonesian foreign workers primarily reside in Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Jeollanamdo.
Foreign workers from Nepal and Cambodia are largely found in Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongnam-do, while those from the Philippines are mainly located in Gyeonggi-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. 
Foreign workers are predominantly male, and they are most commonly found residing in Gyeonggi-do. Notable areas with concentrated foreign worker populations include Woon-gok-dong in Ansan, Magok District in Namyangju, and Jeongwang-dong in Siheung, forming significant residential clusters within Gyeonggi-do.
In South Korea, foreign workers are employed under various professional categories, including Specific Activities (E-7), Language Instruction (E-2), Research (E-3), Arts and Performance (E-6), Professorship (E-1), and Short-term Employment (C-4). From January 2022 to December 2023, there was an increase in the influx of foreign workers. Among the various employment categories, foreign workers in the Specific Activities (E-7) visa category, engaged in activities designated by the Minister of Justice through contracts with public institutions and private organizations, constitute a significant proportion. This is followed by foreign professionals involved in language instruction (E-2) at foreign language institutes, educational institutions at the elementary level and above, language research institutes, and language training centers affiliated with broadcasting companies and businesses..
International Students 
In 2022, the number of international students residing in South Korea was approximately 190,000, accounting for 10% of the total foreign resident population. The majority of international students come from Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, with each region representing 42% and 40%, respectively. Central Asia, Europe, and South Asia follow. Among Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam has the highest number of international students, followed by Myanmar, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In Northeast Asia, international students primarily come from China, Mongolia, Japan, and Taiwan. Vietnamese students make up about 70,000, or 37% of the total international student population, while Chinese students account for around 60,000, or 30%.
The graph illustrates the changes in international students from the top four countries from 2013 to 2022. The number of students from China was about 60,000 in 2013. Although there was a decrease due to COVID-19, the number remained at a similar level in 2022. Students from Vietnam, who numbered around 3,000 in 2013, showed a continuous increase, reaching approximately 70,000 in 2022. Similarly, international students from Mongolia and Japan also exhibited steady growth from 2013 to 2022. Mongolia’s students increased from about 5,000 in 2013 to around 10,000 in 2022, while students from Japan grew from approximately 2,000 in 2013 to about 5,000 in 2022.
Foreign Nationals of Korean Descent
In 2022, the number of foreign nationals of Korean descent residing in South Korea was approximately 400,000, accounting for 23% of the total foreign resident population. Of these, about 77% are Korean-Chinese, followed by Korean-Russians (6%), Americans (6%), and Uzbeks (5%). The largest group, Korean-Chinese, is predominantly located in Gyeonggi-do, with significant populations also in Seoul, Incheon, Chungcheongnam-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do. Korean-Russians are mainly found in Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Incheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Gwangju.
The graph shows changes in the top three countries of origin for foreign nationals of Korean descent from 2016 to 2022. The number of foreign nationals of Korean descent residing in South Korea has steadily increased from 2013 to 2022. Notably, the largest group, Korean-Chinese, increased from approximately 190,000 in 2013 to 300,000 in 2022, marking a rise of 110,000..
Marriage immigrants not only change family structures and establish multicultural households but also settle and naturalize in South Korea, which is significant for the transition to a multicultural society. The graph illustrates the gender distribution of marriage immigrants residing in various regions of South Korea. There are approximately 170,000 marriage immigrants, with women being about three times Vietnam, followed by China, ethnic Koreans from China, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States. Marriage immigrants from Vietnam numbered around 40,000, making it the largest group, while China and ethnic Koreans from China each had about 30,000. Japan, the Philippines, and the United States had approximately 10,000 each.
Vietnamese marriage immigrants have consistently been the largest group over the past decade. China maintained a relatively steady number of immigrants, except for a slight decrease between 2015 and 2016. Ethnic Koreans from China had a relatively high number of marriage immigrants from 2015 to 2019, with a decrease from 2019 to 2021. Japanese and Filipino marriage immigrants maintained a stable level, while the number of American marriage immigrants showed a continuous
increase. 
Multicultural Households
In South Korea, the total number of multicultural household members is approximately 1.15 million, making up about 2% of the total population. The highest percentage of multicultural household members relative to the total population is found in Jeollanam-do, at around 3%, followed by Chungcheongnam-do, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Incheon, and Jeollbuk-do. When further examining the ratio of multicultural household members relative to the total population by city, county, and district, the highest percentages are found in Ansan City, Jeongseon-gun in Jeollabukdo, Yeongam-gun in Jeollanam-do, Jin-an-gun in Jeollabuk-do, and Sunchang-gun in Jeollabuk-do.
Multicultural households can be categorized into marriage immigrants and naturalized citizens, Korean spouses, children, and other cohabitants. The most significant category is marriage immigrants and naturalized citizens. In Jeollanam-do, where the proportion of multicultural household members is highest, multicultural children are the largest group, followed by other cohabitants, marriage immigrants and naturalized citizens, and Korean spouses. In Chungcheongnam-do, marriage immigrants and naturalized citizens are the largest group, followed by multicultural children, other cohabitants, and Korean spouses.
Multicultural Children    
In 2022, the number of children of foreign residents in South Korea reached approximately 300,000. Of these, about 20,000 are children of naturalized citizens or foreign nationals who came to South Korea, while the remainder were born within the country. The gender ratio of these foreign resident children is 51% male and 49% female. Their distribution by region shows that approximately 27% live in Gyeonggi Province, 13% in Seoul, 7% in Gyeongsangnam-do, 7% in Incheon, and 6% in Gyeongsangbuk-do, indicating that nearly half are concentrated in the metropolitan area. By age group, 37% are elementary school-aged children (7–12 years), and 36% are under the age of six. Middle school-aged children (13–15 years) make up 17%, while high school-aged children (16–18 years) account for 10%. Compared to 48% in the school age range in 2017, the proportion of school-aged children has increased.
To support the settlement and naturalization of multicultural families as South Korea transitions to a multicultural society, the government has established 232 Multicultural Family Support Centers nationwide. These centers provide various programs such as Korean language education, interpretation services, and cultural events to ensure the stable settlement, well-being, and social integration of multicultural families. There are 57 centers in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, followed by 24 in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 22 in Jeollanam-do, 20 in Gyeongsangnamdo, and 18 in Gangwon-do