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| In this photo from 2019, jobseekers visit a job fair for foreign residents at COEX in Seoul's Gangnam District. Yonhap |
Big data shows Sinchon, Hongdae rising as daytime hotspots for foreign nationals
By Ko Dong-hwan
Foreign residents from Chinese-speaking countries live and spend most of their time in southwestern Seoul, whereas foreign residents from Western countries tend to flock to the capital's Gangnam District, according to big data analysis of foreign nationals who have stayed in Seoul for 90s days or longer.
Daerim-dong and Guro-dong, in Seoul's southwestern districts of Yeongdeungpo and Guro, respectively, have been the home of a rising number of foreign residents in Seoul, particularly Chinese speakers, even before the pandemic began in early 2020. Together with Geumcheon District, situated south of the two districts, the three adjoining districts had the highest registered numbers of foreign nationals staying in the city long-term, according to the data released June 27.
The latest discovery is the result of a joint analysis by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Migration Research and Training Center, a state-run research agency established by the Ministry of Justice, and the International Organization for Migration in Korea, as well as KT, one of the country's big 3 telecommunications companies.
The city government planned the latest data analysis to check where the city's long-term foreign residents live and where they spend their daytime hours. The authority inferred the nighttime count as a figure closest to the number of long-term foreign residents of the city. The daytime count was rather a yardstick for guessing where the residents were usually active. The analysis tallied foreigners' "daily life population" figures by gathering the telecommunications records and public big data from April 4 in each of the 425 administrative "dong" areas of the city's 25 local districts.
"The daily life population tallies give a more precise outlook on the supply-and-demand trend for foreigners using our city's administrative services than the numbers registered at the central government's old database," said Kim Seon-soon, chief of the Women and Family Policy Affairs Office under the city government. "To resolve the city's declining population problem and empower its global competitiveness, supporting foreign residents is important. The latest survey results will allow us to shape future policies customized for each different district and area in the city."
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| In this photo from 2013, foreign women in the country learn Korean language and culture at a cultural center for marriage migrants in Seongbuk District. Korea Times photo |
The total daily life population of long-term foreign residents in the city as of April 4 was 384,036, the analysis showed. The number of foreign residents registered with the justice ministry as of the end of March this year was 363,887. Those who were involved in daytime activities (at 3 p.m.) were counted at 376,296.
Yeongdeungpo, Guro and Geumcheon districts showed lower daytime activity compared to the size of their registered long-term foreign population. This can be interpreted as meaning more foreign residents in those districts go to different areas for daytime activities. Dongdaemun, Gwangjin, Mapo and Yongsan districts, on the other hand, showed higher numbers of daytime activity than their registered long-term foreign population.
Areas busy with nighttime activities were mostly concentrated in Yeongdeungpo, Guro and Geumcheon. Sinchon in Seodaemun District, and Seogyo-dong in Mapo District, as well as Daerim and Guro, are the areas most frequented for daytime activities.
The city neighborhoods also showed particular trends as to ethnicity, purpose of stay and age. Over 90 percent of long-term foreign residents in Yeongdeungpo, Guro and Geumcheon districts are from Chinese-speaking countries. Yongsan, Seocho and Gangnam districts had the most numbers of Westerners, while Jungnang, Gwangjin and Seongbuk districts in the city's northeastern region had a high numbers of Mongolians.
Yongsan, Seocho, Mapo and Gangnam districts had comparatively higher numbers of foreign workers in skilled professions. Foreign students showed a marked presence in Dongdaemun, Seodaemun, Seongbuk, Gwangjin and Gwanak districts, where many universities are located.
Foreign residents in their 20s were mostly concentrated in Dongdaemun, Seodaemun, Seongbuk, Gwangjin and Jongno districts. Yongsan, Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa districts had comparatively higher numbers of foreigners in their 30s and 40s. Most long-term foreign residents in Yeongdeungpo, Guro and Geumcheon were in their 50s or older.
