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Gyeongbokgung Geunjeongjeon Hall, Hyoja-dong, Jongno-guNamsan Seoul Tower, Yongsandong2-ga, Yongsan-guBukchon Hanok Village Alley, Gahoe-dong, Jongno-guMyeongdong Shopping Street & Underground Mall Entrance, Myeongdong2-ga, Jung-guImjingak Peace Nuri Observatory, Munsan-eup, Paju-siHaeundae Beach & LCT, U-dong, Haeundae-guSeongsan Ilchulbong, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-siBanghwasuryujeong & Hwaseong Fortress Wall, Yeonmu-dong, Jangan-gu

Foreign Residents in Korea

Based on the MOIS local foreign resident survey, 2026

Foreign residents2,042,744peopleNaturalized citizens 245,578 people
Foreign resident share4%Of registered residents

Resident types

By residence type

As of September 2026

Unit: %

Overseas Koreans 20.3%Other foreign nationals 34.2%Migrant workers 24.6%Marriage migrants 9.4%Foreign students 11.4%20.3%34.2%24.6%9.4%11.4%

Overseas Koreans 20.3%Other foreign nationals 34.2%Migrant workers 24.6%Marriage migrants 9.4%Foreign students 11.4%

TypePeopleShare
Overseas Koreans415,69520.3%
Other foreign nationals699,33934.2%
Migrant workers502,63424.6%
Marriage migrants191,8399.4%
Foreign students233,23711.4%

Other foreign nationals are the largest group at 699,339.

Age structure

By age group

As of September 2026
Age groupPeopleShare
Under 1063,3463.1%
10s81,2344%
20s507,80224.9%
30s566,04527.7%
40s336,49516.5%
50s259,34012.7%
60s172,0358.4%
70+56,4472.8%

Residents in their 30s are the largest age group at 566,045.

Foreign resident ranking

Foreign residents by region

As of September 2026
RegionShare
Gyeonggi681,20133.3%
Seoul367,29118%
Chungcheongnam-do139,1116.8%
Gyeongsangnam-do128,5196.3%
Incheon127,9606.3%
Gyeongsangbuk-do101,1525%
Chungcheongbuk-do78,3493.8%
Jeollanam-do70,9363.5%
Busan67,7623.3%
Jeonbuk-do57,6882.8%

The top three areas are home to 58.1% of all foreign residents in Korea.

How fast is Korea's foreign resident population growing?See more foreign resident statistics on GData

Frequently asked questions❓

2,042,744 as of the 2026 survey, or 4% of its population.
Other foreign nationals form the largest group, at 699,339.
The 2026 edition of the annual local foreign resident survey by Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Population figures come from monthly resident registration data, so the two have different reference dates.

Sources 🌐