(C) VnExpress International

SEOUL – South Korea’s foreign employment has reached an all-time high, surpassing the 1.1 million mark for the first time. This surge reflects the nation's increasing reliance on overseas labor to combat a shrinking working-age population and labor shortages in essential industries.

According to the "2025 Immigrant Status and Employment Survey" released by the National Statistics Agency on the 18th, the number of foreign residents aged 15 and older stood at 1,692,000 as of May, an 8.4% increase from the previous year. Among them, the number of employed foreigners rose by 9.8% to 1,109,000, the highest figure since data collection began in 2012.

Demographics and Origins By nationality, ethnic Koreans from China (F-4 visa holders, etc.) remained the largest group at 341,000. Vietnamese nationals followed with 149,000, and Chinese nationals at 54,000. Age-wise, the workforce is predominantly young, with those in their 30s making up the largest segment (368,000), followed by the 15-29 age group (285,000).

Income Disparity and Working Conditions Despite the quantitative growth, a significant portion of these workers remain in lower-wage brackets. Approximately 63.1% of foreign wage earners receive a monthly salary of less than 3 million KRW. Specifically, 50.2% earn between 2 and 3 million KRW, while only 36.9% earn 3 million KRW or more.

While 68.7% of respondents expressed general satisfaction with their jobs, safety remains a concern. About 2.3% reported workplace injuries within the past year. The primary causes were personal error (66.1%) and lack of safety equipment (13.4%), highlighting a need for better safety training and infrastructure tailored to foreign workers.

Future Outlook Experts suggest that as South Korea expands its visa programs (such as the E-9 and E-7-4) to fill gaps in manufacturing, construction, and caregiving services, the focus must shift from mere recruitment to long-term integration and wage equity.

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