Seoul: The number of foreign residents living in South Korea for three months or longer reached a record high of 2,459,542 as of November last year, according to a recent report by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. This milestone highlights the increasing presence of foreign nationals in the country and stresses the need for preparedness to prevent potential social conflicts.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry’s report includes foreign nationals residing in Korea for over three months, naturalized citizens who are not ethnically Korean, and children born to foreign parents as “foreign residents.” The surge is largely due to an influx of foreign workers and international students following the easing of pandemic restrictions. Since the initial compilation of such statistics in 2006, the foreign resident population has never been higher, surpassing Daegu’s population, Korea’s seventh most populated metropolitan city, which stands at 2.37 million.
With foreign residents now accounting for a r
ecord 4.8 percent of South Korea’s total population, the country is on the brink of being classified as a multiracial and multicultural nation by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a status achieved when the foreign resident proportion exceeds 5 percent. This classification might be realized next year if current demographic trends persist. Notably, in counties like Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, and Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, one in five residents is a foreign national.
Despite the growing multicultural presence, foreign residents face numerous challenges, including exploitation and hazardous work conditions. Last year, overdue wages paid by the government to foreign workers amounted to 79.1 billion won, nearly doubling from 40.3 billion won in 2019, as per data from the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service. Strengthening labor standards and enforcing safety measures, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises, are crucial to safeguarding foreign workers
.
Educational disparities also persist, with college admission rates for children of foreign-national parents significantly lower than those for children of Korean nationals. The government is urged to bolster support for multicultural students to ensure equal opportunities for academic success and higher education.
As Korea grapples with a declining native population due to low fertility rates, the necessity of attracting foreign talent becomes more pronounced. In 2022, 118 out of 228 cities, counties, and districts were vulnerable to significant population declines. Recognizing the importance of foreign workers, the government must also focus on granting legal status and facilitating social integration for foreign residents.
The presence of 423,657 unregistered immigrants, representing 17 percent of the foreign resident populace, underscores the complexity of immigration issues. Despite government crackdowns resulting in 39,038 arrests, deeper exploration of the root causes of unregistered immigration is
essential.
A proposed bill to establish an immigration agency remains stalled in the National Assembly, highlighting a critical gap in effectively managing the growing foreign resident population. Without proper management, xenophobia and discrimination could escalate into hate crimes, complicating Korea’s transition to a multicultural society.