Vietnam Tops Long-Term Foreign Arrivals in South Korea for First Time

South Korea saw a total of 428,000 foreign nationals enter the country for stays exceeding 90 days in 2025, a decrease from 451,000 in 2024, according to data from the Korean immigration service. This figure excludes unauthorized entrants. Vietnamese nationals accounted for 98,000 long-term arrivals, surpassing Chinese nationals at 94,000 and marking the first time Vietnam has topped this list. Americans ranked third with 23,000 arrivals. Together, these three nationalities represented over half of all long-term foreign entrants. Yoo Su-deok, head of the ministry's population projection team, stated that the increase in arrivals from Vietnam is driven by more individuals seeking opportunities in education, training, and seasonal employment. He also noted that the declining population of ethnic Koreans in China has contributed to this trend. Employment remained the primary reason for long-term entry, accounting for 37.4% of arrivals with 160,000 individuals. Education and training followed at 25.2%. Permanent residency and marriage represented smaller shares of long-term migration. Separately, South Korea recorded a net inflow of its own citizens on long-term stays in 2025. The number of Koreans returning to the country for stays exceeding 90 days fell 7% to 257,000, while departures declined 6.5% to 233,000, resulting in more citizens returning than leaving. This trend highlights Vietnam's growing role as a source of international labor, driven by economic aspirations and the pursuit of better opportunities abroad. The Vietnamese government's focus on economic development and international cooperation likely plays a role in facilitating such outward migration for its citizens.