Foreign resident population in Korea hits record 2.66 mil. as int'l student numbers surge

Foreign residents in Korea reached a record 2,662,967 as of Nov. 1, 2025, government data showed Wednesday, with international students driving much of the increase. The total rose 3.1 percent from a year earlier and represented 5.1 percent of the population. All 17 top-tier administrative divisions recorded growth, while the capital area remained home to more than half of foreign residents.

International students increased 17.6 percent, or 41,092 people, to 274,329, the steepest growth among the categories listed.

Non-Korean nationals numbered 2,109,057, naturalized citizens 256,491, and Korean-born children of foreign residents 297,419.

Foreign workers grew 2.3 percent to 514,043, while marriage immigrants rose 1.1 percent to 194,017 and foreign-nationality ethnic Koreans declined 1.1 percent to 411,314.

The capital area hosted 1,487,968 foreign residents, or 55.9 percent of the national total; Gyeonggi Province had the largest regional population at 859,943.

The number of municipalities classified as high-density foreign resident areas rose by 12 to 154 nationwide.

Published Oct 28, 2026 3:18 pm KST

Total accounts for 5.1 percent of country's total population

Foreign residents brew makgeolli, or traditional Korean rice-based alcohol, at the Myeong-dong Community Center in Jung District, central Seoul, Sept. 27. Courtesy of Jung District Office

The number of foreign residents living in Korea rose for the fourth consecutive year in 2025 to reach a record high of 2.66 million, driven largely by a sharp increase in international students, government data showed Wednesday.

According to the 2025 Foreign Resident Status report released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, foreign residents totaled 2,662,967 as of Nov. 1 last year. The figure represents a 3.1 percent increase, or 79,341 people, from 2,583,626 a year earlier, based on census data compiled by the National Data Agency.

Foreign residents now account for 5.1 percent of Korea’s total population of 51,817,499 — the highest proportion on record. The ministry defines foreign residents as individuals residing in the country for more than 90 days who hold foreign nationality, have acquired Korean citizenship or were born in Korea to foreign-national or naturalized parents.

By category, non-Korean nationals grew 3.2 percent to 2,109,057, while naturalized citizens increased 4.4 percent to 256,491. Korean-born children of foreign residents edged up 0.7 percent to 297,419.

International students posted the steepest growth among all categories, expanding 17.6 percent, or 41,092 individuals, to 274,329. Foreign workers grew 2.3 percent to 514,043, while marriage immigrants rose 1.1 percent to 194,017. Meanwhile, foreign-nationality ethnic Koreans declined 1.1 percent to 411,314.

Regionally, all 17 top-tier administrative divisions saw an increase in foreign residents. North Gyeongsang Province recorded the highest growth rate at 8.0 percent, followed by Gangwon Province at 7.9 percent and Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City at 7.8 percent — all maintaining growth rates above 7 percent for two consecutive years.

Gyeonggi Province registered the largest increase with 14,869 new residents, followed by North Gyeongsang Province with 10,282 and South Chungcheong Province with 8,984.

The capital area — comprising Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon — remains the primary hub for foreign residents, hosting 55.9 percent (1,487,968 people) of the nation's total. Gyeonggi Province held the largest regional population with 859,943, followed by Seoul with 453,201 and South Chungcheong Province with 178,229.

At the municipal level, Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, retained its position as the city with the largest foreign resident population at 109,544, followed by Hwaseong (83,657), Siheung (79,706), Suwon (74,161) and Bucheon (63,381). The top five municipalities were all located in Gyeonggi Province, unchanged from the previous year.

Municipalities classified as high-density foreign resident areas — defined as having over 10,000 foreign residents or a foreign resident ratio exceeding 5 percent — increased by 12 to 154 nationwide.

"The growth in foreign residents demonstrates that our local communities are transforming into a more diverse and dynamic society," said Jang Heon-beom, director general of the ministry's Local Administration Bureau. "We hope this statistics will be utilized to closely examine regional characteristics and the needs of foreign residents, helping to establish policies that allow foreign residents to settle stably in local communities and grow together with local residents."

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

韩国政府周三公布的数据显示，截至2025年11月1日，在韩外国居民人数达到创纪录的2,662,967人，其中留学生是增长的主要推动力。这一数字较上年同期增长3.1%，占总人口的5.1%。所有17个一级行政区均出现增长，而首都圈地区仍是外国居民总数的一半以上。

国际学生人数增长了 17.6%，即 41,092 人，达到 274,329 人，是所列类别中增长最快的。

非韩国籍人士有 2,109,057 人，入籍公民有 256,491 人，外国居民的韩国出生子女有 297,419 人。

外国劳工人数增长 2.3%，达到 514,043 人；婚姻移民人数增长 1.1%，达到 194,017 人；外籍韩裔人口下降 1.1%，达到 411,314 人。

首都地区共有 1,487,968 名外国居民，占全国总数的 55.9%；京畿道是人口最多的地区，有 859,943 人。

全国范围内，被列为高密度外国人居住区的市镇数量增加了 12 个，达到 154 个。

发布于2026年10月28日下午3:18（韩国标准时间）

总人口占全国总人口的5.1%。

9月27日，在首尔市中心中区明洞社区中心，外国居民正在酿造韩国传统米酒——马格利酒。图片由中区政府提供。

韩国政府周三公布的数据显示，2025年居住在韩国的外国居民人数连续第四年增长，达到创纪录的266万人，这主要是由于国际留学生人数的大幅增长。

根据内政安全部发布的《2025年外国居民状况报告》，截至去年11月1日，外国居民总数为2,662,967人。根据国家数据局编制的人口普查数据，这一数字比上年的2,583,626人增加了3.1%，即79,341人。

目前，外国居民占韩国总人口51,817,499的5.1%，创历史新高。韩国外交部将外国居民定义为在韩国居住超过90天，且持有外国国籍、已取得韩国国籍或在韩国出生的父母为外国公民或已入籍韩国公民的人士。

按类别划分，非韩国国民增长了 3.2%，达到 2,109,057 人；入籍公民增长了 4.4%，达到 256,491 人；外国居民在韩国出生的子女增长了 0.7%，达到 297,419 人。

在所有类别中，国际学生人数增长最为显著，增长17.6%，即41,092人，达到274,329人。外籍劳工人数增长2.3%，达到514,043人，而婚姻移民人数增长1.1%，达到194,017人。与此同时，拥有外国国籍的韩裔人口下降1.1%，至411,314人。

从区域来看，所有17个一级行政区划的外国居民人数均有所增加。庆尚北道的增长率最高，达到8.0%，其次是江原道（7.9%）和全南光州广域市（7.8%）——这三个地区的增长率均连续两年保持在7%以上。

京畿道新增居民人数最多，达 14,869 人，其次是庆尚北道（10,282 人）和忠清南道（8,984 人）。

首都圈（包括首尔、京畿道和仁川）仍然是外国居民的主要聚集地，占全国总人口的55.9%（1,487,968人）。京畿道是人口最多的地区，有859,943人，其次是首尔（453,201人）和忠清南道（178,229人）。

在市级层面，京畿道安山市以109,544人继续保持外籍居民人口最多的城市地位，其次是华城市（83,657人）、始兴市（79,706人）、水原市（74,161人）和富川市（63,381人）。排名前五的市级行政区均位于京畿道，与上年相同。

被归类为高密度外国居民地区的市镇（定义为外国居民超过 10,000 人或外国居民比例超过 5%）在全国范围内增加了 12 个，达到 154 个。

“外籍居民数量的增长表明，我们的地方社区正在向更加多元化和充满活力的社会转型，”文化部地方行政局局长张宪范表示，“我们希望利用这些统计数据，深入研究区域特点和外籍居民的需求，从而制定相关政策，使外籍居民能够在当地社区稳定定居，并与当地居民共同发展。”

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。