Korea experienced a significant rise in immigration last year, marking the second-highest increase among the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
According to the OECD’s 2024 International Migration Outlook, released on November 14, Korea’s immigrant population grew by 50.9%, from 57,800 in 2022 to 87,100 last year. This surge follows a global trend of rising immigration, driven by seasonal workers and the increasing global popularity of Korean culture.
The OECD reported that 6.5 million people received permanent residency or immigrated to its member countries in 2023, the highest number ever recorded. Factors like an influx of seasonal workers and asylum seekers were identified as key drivers of this growth.
The data also includes various groups such as refugees, international students, and temporary workers, along with those who gain permanent residency or citizenship. Korea regularly submits immigration data to the OECD, tracking foreign residents who stay for more than 90 days.
The UK led the OECD countries with a 52.9% increase in immigration, rising from 488,400 in 2022 to 746,900 in 2023. Korea followed closely with a 50.9% increase.
Other countries with significant immigration growth included Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Greece.
A large part of Korea’s immigration rise can be attributed to the influx of seasonal temporary workers. The OECD highlighted the United States, where seasonal laborers increased by 6% to 446,000, and Korea, where the number surged by 212% to 25,500.
Korean media outlets, such as The Chosun Ilbo, pointed to the global popularity of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) as another major factor. This cultural phenomenon, which includes K-pop and K-dramas, has attracted many international students to Korea.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization’s Korea Tourism Data Lab, the number of foreign nationals studying or training in Korea surpassed 200,000 in the first half of 2024. This marked a significant recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the number of foreign students fell sharply from 191,000 in late 2019 to 88,000 in late 2020.
Thanks to the global boom in Korean culture, the number of foreign students and expats in Korea rebounded strongly, reaching 178,000 in the second half of last year.
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