"I Saved Hard to Come to Korea"...Vietnam Ranks First, Surpassing China for the First Time

Last year, Vietnamese nationals ranked first among foreign arrivals to Korea, surpassing Chinese nationals for the first time since statistics began to be compiled. Meanwhile, the number of foreign nationals entering Korea for work has decreased for the second consecutive year, as domestic industries such as manufacturing and construction continue to face economic downturns.

On the 8th, Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport was bustling with domestic and foreign arrivals. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the "2025 International Population Migration Statistics" released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on July 9, the total number of people entering and leaving Korea who stayed for more than 90 days last year was 1,296,000. This represents a decrease of 33,000 people (-2.5%) compared to the previous year. After dropping below 1 million in 2021 (887,000) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number steadily increased over the next three years before declining again last year.

Among international migrants, the number of arrivals was 685,000, down 42,000 (-5.8%) from the previous year. In contrast, the number of departures increased by 9,000 (1.5%) to 611,000. The net international migration, calculated by subtracting departures from arrivals, was a net inflow of 74,000 people. However, as the number of departures increased and arrivals decreased, the net inflow shrank by 51,000 compared to the previous year.

The number of returning Korean nationals (domestic citizens) was 257,000, a decrease of 19,000 (-7.0%) from the previous year. The number of departures was 233,000, down 16,000 (-6.5%). The net migration was a net inflow of 24,000, but this was 3,000 fewer than the previous year. By age group, there was a net inflow across all age brackets over 30, with those in their 50s accounting for the largest share (11,000).

The number of foreign arrivals was 428,000, down 23,000 (-5.1%) from the previous year. The number of foreign departures increased by 25,000 (7.1%) to 378,000. The net migration was a net inflow of 50,000, but this figure itself decreased by 48,000 compared to the previous year. By age group, net inflows occurred among those in their 20s and younger, with the largest net inflow seen in the 20s age group (48,000).

By nationality, the largest numbers of foreign arrivals were from Vietnam (98,000), China (94,000), and the United States (23,000). These three countries accounted for more than half (50.2%) of all foreign arrivals. In this year's survey, Vietnam ranked first, while China dropped to second place for the first time since statistics began in 2000.

Yoo Sudeok, head of the Population Estimates Team at the Ministry of Data and Statistics, explained, "Vietnam has shown a steady increase in arrivals for purposes such as studying abroad, general training, and seasonal work." He added, "In contrast, the number of Chinese entrants for purposes such as overseas compatriot status and employment visits continues to decline, and the decreasing population of ethnic Koreans in China is also one of the contributing factors."

Among foreign departures, the largest numbers were from China (100,000), Vietnam (70,000), and Thailand (35,000), accounting for 54.0% of the total.

By visa status, the largest proportion of foreign arrivals was for employment (37.4%), followed by study abroad/general training (25.2%), permanent residency/marriage migration (13.1%), and short-term stays (12.6%). The number of arrivals for study abroad/general training was 108,000, up 9,000 (9.3%) from the previous year. However, the numbers decreased for short-term stays (-19,000, -25.9%), overseas compatriots (-6,000, -13.5%), employment (-4,000, -2.4%), and permanent residency/marriage migration (-3,000, -5.3%).

Notably, arrivals for employment purposes have declined for two consecutive years: from 173,000 in 2023 to 164,000 in 2024, and to 160,000 last year. Yoo noted, "Although the Ministry of Employment and Labor increased the quota for the non-professional employment visa (E9) to around 130,000 last year, this did not fully translate into actual arrivals. Most E9 visa holders work in construction or manufacturing, and it appears that the recent downturn in domestic business conditions has had an impact."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.