South Korea's foreign resident population reached a historic peak of over 2.66 million as of November 2025, marking four consecutive years of growth. This demographic now accounts for 5.1% of the nation's total population. The increase is largely driven by a significant 17.6% surge in international students, alongside steady growth in foreign workers and marriage immigrants. Geographically, the majority of these residents are concentrated in the greater Seoul area, particularly within Gyeonggi province. Vietnamese nationals represent a substantial portion of the foreign community, leading in student numbers and ranking second among foreign nationals and naturalized citizens. Government officials noted that this rising diversity is prompting new policy considerations to support the stable integration of foreign residents into local communities across all 17 provinces and metropolitan cities.
Source : VnExpress International
Photo : VnExpress International
