The Seoul Immigration Office (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – Immigration to South Korea surged by 50.9% in 2023, placing it second among OECD nations in terms of year-over-year growth, powered in part by the global popularity of Korean culture, according to a new OECD report.
The report, released on November 14, revealed that OECD member countries welcomed a record-breaking 6.5 million permanent residents in 2023, surpassing the previous high of 6 million set in 2022. This represents nearly a 10% increase in just one year.
The United States maintained its position as the leading destination for immigrants, accepting 1,189,800 new permanent residents in 2023, up 13.4% from 1,048,700 in 2022. The United Kingdom saw the highest percentage increase, with immigration jumping 52.9% from 488,400 in 2022 to 746,900 in 2023.
South Korea’s immigration numbers rose from 57,800 in 2022 to 87,100 in 2023. The country saw a particularly dramatic increase in seasonal workers, with a 212% rise compared to just 6% in the United States. These workers typically fill temporary labor shortages in specific sectors.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Justice, the surge in immigration can be attributed largely to the global phenomenon known as the “Korean Wave” or “Hallyu,” which has attracted increasing numbers of international students and trainees to the country.
Jean-Christophe Dumont, head of the OECD’s International Migration Division, attributed the overall immigration surge to various factors, including labor shortages in post-pandemic economic recovery and demographic changes such as declining working-age populations.
While immigration has helped advanced economies address inflation concerns and labor shortages, the OECD report noted growing opposition to increased immigration in some countries.
The organization observed that while OECD nations have reaped economic benefits from the immigrant workforce, they face political instability due to potential social tensions arising from economic and cultural differences between native-born citizens and immigrants.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
