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Worldwide college students fill out job functions at a recruitment truthful at Tongmyong College in Nam-gu, Busan, Nov. 6, 2025. Yonhap
Almost half of Koreans say the variety of international residents — now surpassing 2 million — has grown quicker than they anticipated, whereas roughly 4 in 10 favor sustaining present immigration ranges, suggesting substantial public concern, a survey discovered.
Earlier this week, the Migration Analysis and Coaching Centre launched a report inspecting Koreans’ views on immigrants, based mostly on a 2024 Ministry of Justice survey of 6,000 Koreans.
As of 2024, the variety of international nationals staying in Korea for greater than 90 days reached about 2.04 million, surpassing 2 million for the primary time on document.
When requested concerning the acceptable dimension of Korea’s immigrant inhabitants, the biggest share of respondents, 41.5 p.c, stated the present degree needs to be maintained, whereas solely 24.1 p.c favored a rise and 21.5 p.c referred to as for a discount.
The survey additionally discovered that 49.1 p.c of respondents stated the variety of international residents was greater than anticipated, whereas 28.3 p.c stated it was about as anticipated. One other 15.1 p.c stated it was decrease than anticipated.
Responses additionally mirrored political leanings: Round one in 4 conservatives (25.1 p.c) stated the immigrant inhabitants needs to be decreased, in contrast with simply 18.8 p.c of progressives, highlighting the partisan hole on the problem.
The report burdened that understanding public perceptions of immigrants and strengthening acceptance are more and more essential, as immigration is a key coverage instrument to counter inhabitants decline and getting old, significantly outdoors the Seoul metropolitan space.
Final yr, folks aged 65 and older accounted for greater than 21 p.c of Korea’s inhabitants, pushing the nation right into a super-aged society by United Nations requirements. The entire fertility price stood at 0.75 in 2024, far under the OECD common of 1.51 in 2022.
Overseas employees sporting Vietnam’s conventional non la hats harvest potatoes in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, July 23, 2025. Yonhap
A complete of 43.9 p.c of respondents stated immigrants needs to be accepted as members of Korean society, whereas 40 p.c have been impartial and 18.4 p.c disagreed.
The most typical requirement for acceptance was compliance with Korea’s political system and legal guidelines, cited by 82.7 p.c of respondents, adopted by respect for cultural traditions at 76.4 p.c.
Different regularly cited situations included the flexibility to talk Korean at 73 p.c, contributing to nationwide growth at 70.7 p.c and holding Korean nationality at 69.4 p.c.
Views on the suitable dimension of the immigrant inhabitants assorted by visa kind.
Approval was highest for skilled employees akin to professors and analysis personnel at 90 p.c, adopted by worldwide college students at 85.5 p.c.
In distinction, respondents have been much less accepting of ethnic Koreans from overseas and refugees as acknowledged below the Refugee Act, with help at 56.6 p.c and 54.4 p.c, respectively.
The report discovered that acceptance was greater for teams perceived as having clear roles in Korean society, whereas decrease acceptance of abroad Koreans and acknowledged refugees mirrored perceptions that their social roles have been unsure or considered negatively.
The report stated perceptions of immigrants in Korea are combined, recognizing that they face discrimination alongside considerations akin to hyperlinks to crime.
Greater than half of respondents, 55.1 p.c, stated immigrants face discrimination, whereas 43.8 p.c considered them as contributing to the financial system.
Damaging views persevered, nonetheless, with 39.3 p.c saying immigrants enhance crime and 28.8 p.c saying they take jobs away from Koreans.
“Many Koreans proceed to affiliate immigrants with crime and job competitors, making a shift in public perceptions a key problem,” the report stated.
It added that more practical integration insurance policies — together with Korean-language schooling and job placement — are wanted to assist international residents adapt quicker and take part extra absolutely in native communities.
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