How and Where Foreigners Live in South Korea: Regional Breakdown and Visa Requirements (2025)

The Proportion of Foreign Residents in South Korea Is Rising

I’ve posted a detailed analysis on this topic—check it out for more insights!

Let’s take a closer look at the regional distribution of foreigners living in Korea.

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1. Regional Distribution of Foreign Residents

Foreigners in Korea are heavily concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon), with many also living in industrial regions like Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk.

RegionForeign Residents% of TotalMain NationalitiesAvg. Age

Gyeonggi	360,000	36.2%	China, Vietnam, Thailand	32
Seoul	260,000	26.1%	USA, Japan, Russia	38
Incheon	66,000	6.6%	China, Uzbekistan	34
Gyeongnam	63,000	6.3%	Vietnam, Philippines	29
Chungnam	45,000	4.5%	Nepal, Cambodia	31
Other	164,783	16.3%	Mongolia, Indonesia	35

 

• Most Chinese nationals live in Gyeonggi and Seoul, averaging 35 years old.
• Vietnamese residents are younger (average 29), mainly in industrial zones of Gyeongnam and Chungnam.
• Americans are concentrated in Seoul’s Gangnam and Bundang districts (average age 40), often in professional jobs.

As of 2025, 78% of foreigners live in cities, while 22% reside in rural areas (including agricultural regions).

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2. Rural vs. Urban Life for Foreigners

Definition of “Rural” in Korea:

• Population density: under 500 people per km²
• Outside the Seoul metropolitan area
• Population: under 100,000
• High proportion of agricultural or fishery workers
• OECD: Areas not classified as urban, with low population density
• Legal: Officially designated “rural,” “fishing,” or “mountain” areas

Summary Table

AreaAdvantagesDisadvantagesTypical Residents

Rural	Lower living costs	Fewer job opportunities	Marriage migrants, farm workers
	Strong community ties	Harder cultural/language adaption
Urban	More jobs, education	Higher housing/transport costs	Students, professionals
	Better multicultural access	More competition

 

• 65% of marriage migrants live in rural areas, with an average stay of 8.2 years (vs. 5.5 years in cities).
• 78% of urban foreigners cite “job access” as the biggest advantage, but 43% mention “housing costs” as a major issue.

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3. Entry Requirements and Stay Procedures in Korea

Entry Types

TypeEligible CountriesStay PeriodRequired Documents

Visa-free	UK, France, Germany (67 countries)	90 days	K-ETA exempt (until end of 2025)
e-Visa	India, Philippines, Indonesia	30–60 days	Apply online
Visa required	Afghanistan, Syria, etc.	Varies	Embassy application

 

Long-Term Stay Procedures

PurposeRequired DocumentsProcessing TimeVisa Type

Work	Employment contract, business reg.	4–8 weeks	E-7 (skilled), H-2
Study	University acceptance, finances	2–4 weeks	D-2
Marriage	Marriage certificate, income proof	6–12 weeks	F-6
Investment	Proof of investment (₩100M+)	8–12 weeks	D-8

 

• US/Canadian citizens can stay 6 months visa-free, but need an E-7 for work.
• Chinese nationals can enter visa-free for 90 days, then switch to a D-4 (language study) or D-10 (job-seeking) visa.

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4. Long-Term Stay by Nationality

NationalityMain PurposeAvg. DurationVisa Types

China	Study, Work	4.3 years	D-2, E-7
Vietnam	Labor	2.8 years	E-9, H-2
USA	Professional	5.1 years	E-7, F-4
Thailand	Agriculture	3.5 years	E-8

 

• 41% of Filipinos work as caregivers (E-9), average stay 3.2 years.
• Russians can stay 2 years with a D-8 (investment) visa if investing over ₩100 million.

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Summary

• Young Southeast Asian workers are concentrated in the capital region, while marriage migrants and farm workers are mainly in rural areas.
• Visa-free entry is temporarily allowed for 67 countries (until end of 2025); long-term stays require a purpose-specific visa.
• Urban areas offer more job opportunities but higher living costs; rural areas are cheaper but have language and cultural barriers.

Sources:
Ministry of Justice (2025), K-ETA official site, OECD Korea reports

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References

• Demographics of South Korea – Wikipedia
• How Many Foreigners in Korea? – InMyKorea
• UK Government: South Korea Entry Requirements
• Visa Application to South Korea 2025 – KoreaTravelEasy

Visa Application to South Korea 2025 | KoreaTravelEasy

 

Entry requirements - South Korea travel advice

 

How Many Foreigners In Korea Are There? 2025 Updated Stats

 

Demographics of South Korea - Wikipedia