Foreigners in Korea

Following the partition of Korea in the aftermath of the Korean War, the percent of foreigners in South Korea has risen to 3.4%, or about two million of the total population (half of them Chinese, with Americans and Vietnamese tied for second place at around 150,000 or 6-7% of total).^[1][2] North Korea largely remains ethnically homogeneous with a small Chinese expatriate community and a few Japanese people.^[3]

History

King Gojong called foreigners "uneducated louts," motivated by "lechery and sensuality."^[4] The Joseon Dynasty was widely referred to as a "hermit kingdom" for sealing itself off from foreign influence. Joseon diplomacy mainly involved the Sadae ("serving the great") policy toward Imperial China. Concurrently maintained (and jointly referred to as "serving the great and relations with neighbor policy" Hangul: 사대교린 정책; Hanja: 事大交隣政策) was the Gyorin policy of amicable relations with neighbouring countries; however this did not result in significant influx of foreign persons but rather sporadic trade delegations and diplomatic missions: envoys from the Ryūkyū Kingdom were received by Taejo of Joseon in 1392, 1394 and 1397. Siam sent an envoy to Taejo's court in 1393.^[5]

The Joseon kingdom made every effort to maintain a friendly bilateral relationship with China for reasons having to do with both realpolitik and a more idealist Confucian worldview wherein China was seen as the center of a Confucian moral universe.^[6] In the fifth through tenth centuries, Arabs sailed the Indian Ocean, and Arab merchants and sailors eventually landed in Korea during the Silla dynasty.^[7] These contacts eventually broke off starting in the 15th century, resulting in the Arabs' eventual assimilation into the Korean population.

North Korea

The foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable. The number of foreign residents is correspondingly very small, and is essentially limited to Japanese spouses of "repatriating" Zainichi Koreans, expatriates from the People's Republic of China, foreign diplomats, and a few defectors such as James Joseph Dresnok and Joseph T. White.

South Korea

South Korea is among the world's most ethnically homogeneous nations, i.e. those with absolute majority of the population of one ethnicity.^[8] Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, South Korea has been far more open to foreign influence, especially American, than North Korea.

There were 1,741,919 total foreign residents in Korea in 2015,^[9] compared to 1,576,034 in 2013.^[10] As of September 2015, according to the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, the foreign population in South Korea, including migrant workers, increased to 1.8 million, accounting for 3.4% of the total population.^[11]

The biggest group of foreigners in Korea are the Chinese.^[12] In 1970, an estimated 120,000 Chinese resided in South Korea. However, due to economic restrictions by the South Korean government, the number may have fallen to as low as 21,000. In the 10-year period starting in the late 1990s, the number of Chinese in Korea exploded. In mid 2000s it was estimated that there are at least 300,000^[13] and possibly more than 1,000,000^[14] In 2009 it was estimated there are about 450,000 Chinese Koreans.^[12] Chinese citizens living in South Korea as permanent residents or illegal immigrants, including Joseonjok (Hangul: 조선족; Hanja: 朝鮮族, Chinese citizens of Korean descent) and Han Chinese. There is a large Chinese community in Seoul's southwestern area (Daerim/Namguro) and a smaller but established a community in Seongnam. Ethnic Chinese in Korea are known as Hwagyo (Hangul: 화교; Hanja: 華僑) by the Koreans.

As of 2016, there were 710,000 Chinese nationals living in Korea, of which ethnic Koreans from China accounted for 500,000, Chinese 190,000 and Taiwanese 20,000. Together, they accounted for 51.6 percent of all foreigners in Korea.^[15]

The second-biggest group of foreigners in South Korea are migrant workers from Southeast Asia^[12] and increasingly from Central Asia (notably Uzbekistan, mostly ethnic Koreans from there, and Mongolians), and in the main cities, particularly Seoul, there is a small but growing number of foreigners related to business and education.

The number of marriages between Koreans and foreigners has risen steadily in the past few years. In 2005, 14% of all marriages in South Korea were marriages to foreigners (about 26,000 marriages); most were rural Korean men marrying other Asian women from poor backgrounds. Korean men in age brackets up to their 40s outnumber slightly younger Korean women, both due to a high sex ratio and the drop in the birth rate since the 1960s, leading to a huge demand for wives. Many Korean agencies encourage 'international' marriages to Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipina, Indonesian, and Thai women, adding a new degree of complexity to the issue of ethnicity.^[16]

The number of expatriate English teachers hailing from English-speaking nations has increased from less than 1,000 in 1988 to over 20,000 in 2002,^[17] and stood at more than 22,000 in 2010.^[18] There are 28,500 United States military personnel and civilian employees throughout the country,^[19] an increasing number of whom are also accompanied by family members.

Most Koreans still believe that their population is of a single racial bloodline,^[18] and Korean media sometimes create the impression that foreigners are dangerous,^[20] including requiring HIV/AIDS tests for non-ethnic Korean foreigners who work in South Korea.^[4]

Influence on entertainment & the Arts

Korean media is widely influenced by expatriate entertainers. Performers, often residing with controversial E6 visas^[21] provide several benefits: a desired native English factor - though many are famously bilingual ^[22], and contribution to Korea's desire for cultural diversity, pride and English. English media is available through major broadcasting entities. ^[23] Though highly unregulated, the expat presence in Korea is ^[24] encouraged by the prevalence of the Korean wave.

Korea is home to the headquarters of several major players in gaming and dubbing. ^[25] Due to the globalization of popular media, expats are the driving force behind many productions and the competition is described as being particularly fierce due to the popularity of K-dramas. ^[26] TV personalities such as Americans Carson Allen, Khalid Tapia, Bronwyn Mullen ^[27]and Australian actor ^[28]Sam Hammington ^[29] are well known to viewers, often appearing in popular variety shows.

Some actors have reached household name status. Veteran Isaac Durst, an American actor, is well known for his extensive work catering to kids, family friendly TV and radio.^[30] Broadcasters such as kyopo ^[31]Lisa Kelley, ^[32] Ghana-born Sam Okyere, ^[33] American sports commentator Jason Lee^[34], and popular advertisement voice actor Richard Kim who hails from America^[35][36] have been formally recognized for their influence on the Korean media industry. So frequent are their contributions that their voices are considered staples in Korean media, particularly in TV and radio.

On the practical side of entertainment in Asia, a booming voice industry is lucrative. ^[37] Recognized actors such as American born Jennifer Clyde^[38], who has been dubbed "the voice of Korea in 'English' ^[39] reach millions through commercials, games and dubbing. Multi-genre entertainers such as Canadian Kelly Frances^[40], ^{[41] [42]} Stephen Revere, French DJ-actor Julian Quintart, ^[43] and French performer-model-MC Fabien Yoon contribute through content, voice and live performances.^[44][45] Singer-actress Samia Mounts is credited for her role in Pokemon and American-Korean voice acting, having spent her youth in Korea.^[46][47] On the classical music side, Dr. Ryan Goessl has built the Camarata Music Company, one of the world’s most diverse music organizations, in Seoul. The organization, which boasts members from 97 different countries, can be seen in concert up to 40 times per year. Dr. Goessl can also be seen performing on Korea’s national stages as both a choral/orchestral conductor, as well as a classical vocal soloist.^{[48] [49] [50]}

The foodie scene has its own token expat, Joe McPherson, whose work reached the New York times and landed him a consultant role during Anthony Bourdain's visit to Seoul^[51] .^[52] Additionally, Daniel Gray is an adoptee from the United States who made a brand for himself as a local foodie and author.^[53]

Radio in English is considered essential for ESL learners, and one of Korea's best known hosts, veteran Stephen Hatherly, runs a long standing show - named after himself at English station TBSeFM.^[54]

The DJ scene is gaining global respect, and with it, expat professionals. ^[55] Bellydancing is embraced and led by expats such as Australian veteran ^[56]Belynda Azhaar, often tying performance to social causes.^[57]

As Seoul continues to develop its fashion presence, Expat models are common. Brazilian veteran Jane Aquino is known as a successful expatriate model, posing with K-pop idols and working for the likes of high profile fashion houses such as Hermes. ^[58]

The youtube scene has gained popularity, though it is agreed that veteran Dave Lavene remains most recognizable for his success with half a million subscribers. ^[59]

Statistics

Number of foreign residents in South Korea up to 2017.^[2][60][61]

Number of foreign residents in South Korea

Year	Foreign resident population
1980	40,519
1990	100,000
1995	269,000
1998	308,339
2000	491,234
2002	629,006
2005	747,476
2007	1,066,273
2010	1,261,415
2011	1,395,077
2012	1,445,103
2013	1,576,034
2014	1,797,618
2015	1,899,519
2016	2,034,878
2017	2,180,498

Percentage of foreigners residing in South Korea by their countries of origin

Nationalities of legal foreign residents in South Korea as of 2017.^[62]

Rank	Country	Population
1	China	1,018,074
2	Vietnam	169,738
3	Thailand	153,259
4	United States	143,568
5	Uzbekistan	62,870
6	Philippines	58,480
7	Japan	53,670
8	Cambodia	47,105
9	Mongolia	45,744
10	Indonesia	45,328
11	Russia	44,851
12	Nepal	36,627
13	Taiwan	36,168
14	Sri Lanka	26,916
15	Canada	25,692
16	Myanmar	24,902
17	Kazakhstan	22,322
18	Bangladesh	16,066
19	Hong Kong	13,303
20	Australia	13,008
21	Pakistan	12,697
22	Malaysia	12,516
-	Others	97,594
-	Total	2,180,498

See also

• Immigration to South Korea
• North Korean defectors
• South Korean defectors

References

External links

• Korean Statistical Information System
• South Korea: Balancing Labor Demand with Strict Controls, Park Young-bum, Migration Information Source, December 2004.