I cover a wide range of stories about Korean society — one of the most dynamic places in the world. To me, journalism means being on the ground, uncovering untold stories and amplifying marginalized voices, especially in an era when AI is reshaping the media landscape. That’s why I’m always here to listen. Tips and stories are welcome — feel free to reach out via email. Before becoming a journalist, I traveled through 24 countries over 702 days, served two years as a military police officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and later studied filmmaking at the Korea National University of Arts.
Most Koreans favor keeping immigration levels steady, survey shows
International students fill out job applications at a recruitment fair at Tongmyong University in Nam-gu, Busan, Nov. 6, 2025. Yonhap
By Park Ung
Crime, job fears affect public views on immigrants, migration research agency report says
Nearly half of Koreans say the number of foreign residents — now surpassing 2 million — has grown faster than they anticipated, while roughly four in 10 favor maintaining current immigration levels, suggesting substantial public concern, a survey found.
Earlier this week, the Migration Research and Training Centre released a report examining Koreans’ views on immigrants, based on a 2024 Ministry of Justice survey of 6,000 Koreans.
As of 2024, the number of foreign nationals staying in Korea for more than 90 days reached about 2.04 million, surpassing 2 million for the first time on record.
When asked about the appropriate size of Korea’s immigrant population, the largest share of respondents, 41.5 percent, said the current level should be maintained, while only 24.1 percent favored an increase and 21.5 percent called for a reduction.
The survey also found that 49.1 percent of respondents said the number of foreign residents was higher than expected, while 28.3 percent said it was about as expected. Another 15.1 percent said it was lower than expected.
Responses also reflected political leanings: Around one in four conservatives (25.1 percent) said the immigrant population should be reduced, compared with just 18.8 percent of progressives, highlighting the partisan gap on the issue.
The report stressed that understanding public perceptions of immigrants and strengthening acceptance are increasingly important, as immigration is a key policy tool to counter population decline and aging, particularly outside the Seoul metropolitan area.
Last year, people aged 65 and older accounted for more than 21 percent of Korea’s population, pushing the country into a super-aged society by United Nations standards. The total fertility rate stood at 0.75 in 2024, far below the OECD average of 1.51 in 2022.
Foreign workers wearing Vietnam’s traditional non la hats harvest potatoes in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, July 23, 2025. Yonhap
A total of 43.9 percent of respondents said immigrants should be accepted as members of Korean society, while 40 percent were neutral and 18.4 percent disagreed.
The most common requirement for acceptance was compliance with Korea’s political system and laws, cited by 82.7 percent of respondents, followed by respect for cultural traditions at 76.4 percent.
Other frequently cited conditions included the ability to speak Korean at 73 percent, contributing to national development at 70.7 percent and holding Korean nationality at 69.4 percent.
Views on the appropriate size of the immigrant population varied by visa type.
Approval was highest for professional workers such as professors and research personnel at 90 percent, followed by international students at 85.5 percent.
In contrast, respondents were less accepting of ethnic Koreans from abroad and refugees as recognized under the Refugee Act, with support at 56.6 percent and 54.4 percent, respectively.
The report found that acceptance was higher for groups perceived as having clear roles in Korean society, while lower acceptance of overseas Koreans and recognized refugees reflected perceptions that their social roles were uncertain or viewed negatively.
The report said perceptions of immigrants in Korea are mixed, recognizing that they face discrimination alongside concerns such as links to crime.
More than half of respondents, 55.1 percent, said immigrants face discrimination, while 43.8 percent viewed them as contributing to the economy.
Negative views persisted, however, with 39.3 percent saying immigrants increase crime and 28.8 percent saying they take jobs away from Koreans.
“Many Koreans continue to associate immigrants with crime and job competition, making a shift in public perceptions a key challenge,” the report said.
It added that more effective integration policies — including Korean-language education and job placement — are needed to help foreign residents adapt faster and participate more fully in local communities.