Long-Term Foreign Residents Hit Record High, Majority Concentrated in Capital Area

As of November 2025, the number of foreign nationals registered to stay in South Korea for more than 90 days surpassed 1.6 million, marking the highest level ever recorded.

According to data from the Korea Immigration Service, the number of long-term registered foreigners increased by 8 percent compared to the previous year. This growth rate significantly exceeded the overall increase in the total number of foreign nationals staying in the country, which rose by 3.2 percent during the same period.

More than half of all long-term foreign residents were found to be living in the Seoul metropolitan area, which includes Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon.

Within the capital region, Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province recorded the largest foreign resident population. Siheung City and Ansan’s Danwon District followed as areas with particularly high concentrations of foreign nationals.

Outside the capital area, the southeastern Gyeongsang region accounted for 20.6 percent of registered foreigners. The central Chungcheong region represented 12.8 percent, while 8.9 percent resided in the southwestern Jeolla region.

By nationality, Chinese citizens made up the largest share, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all registered foreign residents. Vietnamese nationals followed at 18.4 percent, with smaller proportions from Nepal, Uzbekistan, and Cambodia.

In terms of visa status, nonprofessional employment visa holders under the E-9 category formed the largest group, totaling approximately 335,000 people. International students holding D-2 visas numbered just over 220,000.

Permanent residents accounted for around 219,000 individuals, while marriage migrants holding F-6 visas exceeded 152,000. Other major groups included foreign workers on E-7 specific activities visas and visiting workers under the H-2 visa program.