By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Ethnic Koreans staying in Korea with H-2 working-visitor visas reached 300,000 for the first time, accounting for 71 percent of 423,519 ethnic Koreans here, said the Ministry of Justice Monday.
It said roughly 98 percent of H-2 holders or 296,516 came from China, followed by 2,635 from Uzbekistan and 1,660 from Russia.
There were 150,926 H-2 holders in March last year. But the number grew notably to reach 297,329 last June.
The government said the increase was largely attributable to the growing number of Korean small and mid-size firms seeking overseas Koreans to cope with chronic manpower shortages.
Ethnic Koreans in China and the former Soviet Union aged over 25 can apply for the visa. Once issued, the visa is valid for up to five years.
A total of 423,519 ethnic Koreans were residing here last July. Overseas Koreans with Chinese citizenship constitute the largest community here with 380,731, followed by 26,621 from America and 6,307 from Canada. Koreans holding Australian citizenship came next at 2,173.