The number of registered foreigners staying in South Korea for 90 days or longer exceeded 1.6 million as of November, according to justice ministry data. About half of them live in the greater Seoul area, with Chinese and Vietnamese nationals making up the largest groups. This marks an 8 percent increase from November last year.
According to monthly data compiled by South Korea's justice ministry, the number of registered foreigners staying in the country for 90 days or longer surpassed 1.6 million as of November 2025. This figure has been steadily rising, from 1.1 million in 2021 and 1.3 million in 2023, reflecting an 8 percent increase compared to November 2024.
Some 54 percent of these foreigners reside in the greater Seoul area, with concentrations in southern Gyeonggi Province cities such as Hwaseong (54,584 residents), Siheung (42,158), and Ansan (38,398). By nationality, Chinese nationals account for 29.8 percent, followed by Vietnamese at 18.4 percent, Nepali at 5.5 percent, Uzbek at 4.3 percent, and Cambodian at 4.1 percent.
Registered foreigners are those who have applied to stay in South Korea for 90 days or more, entitling them to foreign registration cards. They must report any change in residence within 14 days. This growth underscores South Korea's increasing reliance on foreign labor and its push toward greater internationalization.
