South Korea’s population is becoming increasingly diverse, with recent research showing an almost 8% rise in overall diversity over the past five years. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s population is becoming increasingly diverse, with recent research showing an almost 8% rise in overall diversity over the past five years, driven by immigration and shifting demographics in both urban and rural areas.
According to a report released Tuesday by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the national population diversity index rose from 0.0527 in 2018 to 0.0568 in 2022 — a 7.79% increase.
The index, based on the Blau Index, measures heterogeneity within populations on a scale from 0 (completely homogeneous) to 1 (completely heterogeneous), taking into account factors such as ethnicity, religion, and cultural background.
The study highlighted that regions with notable foreign labor and marriage migrant populations — including rural towns with industrial zones — saw the most significant gains. Incheon posted the sharpest rise in diversity (21.96%), followed by Daejeon, South Jeolla, North Jeolla, Gangwon, and Daegu — all with double-digit increases.
1 in 10 marriages in South Korea last year (2023) was multicultural, while children born to multicultural families accounted for 5.3% of all births. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Conversely, diversity decreased in Sejong City (–9.49%) and slightly declined in Seoul (–0.92%), possibly due to shifting population patterns and housing pressures.
At the local level, Ansan’s Wongok-dong in Gyeonggi Province recorded the highest diversity index at 0.735, reflecting its large immigrant population. Other top-ranking areas — including parts of Siheung, Hwaseong, and Kimpo — were also in Gyeonggi, underscoring the region’s status as a hub for multicultural communities.
Among children under six years old, the diversity index surged by approximately 45%, from 0.0419 in 2018 to 0.0609 in 2022, indicating that Korea’s future generations are growing up in a more multicultural environment.
Researchers noted that this demographic transformation is especially visible in southwestern Gyeonggi and parts of northern Seoul, reinforcing the impact of immigration and birthrate trends on the nation’s evolving social fabric.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
