SEJONG, South Korea - Vietnamese arrivals overtook those from China among foreigners entering South Korea for long-term stays in 2025, data showed Thursday, marking the first that this has occurred since related data was compiled starting in 2000.
According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, a total of 428,000 foreigners entered South Korea for long-term stays of more than 90 days last year, down from 451,000 a year earlier. The tally excludes illegal arrivals.
By nationality, people from Vietnam, China and the United States accounted for a combined 50.2 percent, with the figures reaching 98,000, 94,000 and 23,000, respectively.
"The number of arrivals from Vietnam has increased recently as more and more come to study, for training or seasonal jobs," said Yoo Su-deok, director of the population projection team, during a press briefing.
Yoo added the change was also apparently attributable to the continued decrease in the number of ethnic Koreans living in China.
The data also showed 160,000 foreign nationals entered South Korea for work, down 2.4 percent from a year earlier.
In detail, arrivals of non-professional workers fell 24.4 percent on-year to 73,000, while those categorized as professional workers also moved down 14.1 percent over the period to 13,000.
Among foreign visitors for long-term stays, 37.4 percent came to South Korea for jobs, followed by education and training at 25.2 percent. Permanent stays and marriages accounted for 13.1 percent.
Meanwhile, more South Koreans entered the country than left for stays of more than 90 days in 2025.
Incoming Korean nationals fell 7 percent on-year to 257,000, while the number of outgoing Korean nationals dropped 6.5 percent to 233,000.
This photo taken on July 8, 2026, shows the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
