This study seeks to examine the demographic characteristics of foreign residents in Korea, with a particular focus on identifying the structural challenges and policy implications that warrant attention. For this purpose, the foreign population in Seoul was classified into three categories―non-naturalized foreign residents, naturalized citizens, and children of foreign nationals―and their demographic trends were subsequently examined. The major findings are as follows.
First, although the size of the foreign resident population has rebounded since the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall growth trajectory has shown signs of slowing. Second, in contrast to the national average, the proportion of women among foreign residents in Seoul is markedly higher. This is largely attributable to women constituting more than 60 percent of both marriage migrants and international students. Third, the foreign resident population is not immune to the broader phenomenon of demographic aging. Notably, 35.2 percent of non-naturalized foreign residents are over the age of 50, suggesting that aging within this group is likely to emerge as a salient policy concern over the next five to ten years. Fourth, the composition of foreign residents has become increasingly diversified, with Southeast Asian nationals demonstrating particularly rapid growth. Fifth, one of the defining characteristics of Seoul’s foreign resident population is the predominance of ethnic Koreans from abroad, who account for 84.9 percent of all foreign nationals residing in the city. Sixth, Seoul continues to serve as a key hub for international students, who are disproportionately concentrated in the capital relative to other regions of the country.
Taken together, these findings underscore a number of policy implications. Most importantly, the role of foreign residents in mitigating population decline appears limited; rather, their growing presence is likely to generate new demands on the social welfare system and pose challenges for service provision. Moreover, while the rising number of international students can be regarded as a positive development, it also raises potential tensions related to labor market competition, entrepreneurial opportunities, and distributive equity. The overrepresentation of Chinese nationals highlights the persistent challenge of managing anti-Chinese sentiment in Korean society. Finally, the disproportionately high share of women among foreign residents calls for sustained public deliberation and consensus-building regarding the applicability and scope of gender-focused policy measures.