Foreign nationals in their 20s and 30s lead the numbers, Ansan City has the largest number of foreign residents, and Chinese comprise the largest number of foreign residents

◇ According to an analysis by Gyeonggi Province using immigration statistics from the Ministry of Justice released on October 18, Gyeonggi Province was home to 352,166 registered foreign residents as of 2014. This marked an increase of 85,358 persons (32.0%) from the 266,808 foreign residents registered in 2009. The number of foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province has grown by an average of 47 persons every day for the past five years, the highest figure in the nation. ⓒ Gyeonggi Provincial Government

On October 18, Gyeonggi Province released a study showing that the number of foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province has increased by an average of 47 persons every day for the past five years.

According to an analysis by Gyeonggi Province using immigration statistics from the Ministry of Justice, Gyeonggi Province was home to 352,166 registered foreign nationals as of 2014. This marked an increase of 85,358 persons (32.0%) from the 266,808 foreigners registered in 2009. 

This indicates that the foreign resident population grew by an average of 47 persons every day for the past five years, the highest figure in the nation. South Gyeongsang Province and South Chungcheong Province followed Gyeonggi Province with daily averages of 14 and 9 persons, respectively.

By age, migration was robust for foreign nationals in their 20s and 30s at 56.9%; this was followed by those in their 40s and 50s at 35.2%. In terms of gender, the largest number of migrants was comprised of men in their 20s and 30s at 63.0%; this was followed by men in their 40s and 50s at 30.2%. Meanwhile, regarding women, those in their 20s and 30s accounted for 47.7% and those in their 40s and 50s for 42.7%. 

A break down among cities and counties reveals that Ansan City was home to the largest number with 53,755 foreign residents; this was followed by Suwon (34,941), Hwaseong (31,677), and Siheung (29,983). Gwacheon had the lowest concentration of foreign residents with just 292. The results showed that men were primarily residing in cities and counties with manufacturing hubs while women tended to reside in cities and counties with strong wholesale and retail sectors or food and lodging businesses.

◇ Those in their 20s and 30s accounted for the largest proportion of registered foreign nationals in Gyeonggi Province at 56.9%. In terms of gender, those in their 20s and 30s comprised the largest groups for both men and women at 63.0% and 47.7%, respectively. ⓒ Gyeonggi Provincial Government

In terms of nationalities, Chinese (including ethnic Koreans) topped the list with 194,268 persons (55.2%); this was followed by Vietnamese at 28,910 (8.2%), and Filipinos at 15,310 (4.3%). With regards to migration status, visiting employment, non-professional employment, and tourism employment accounted for 217,275 persons (61.7%), making employment the top reason for migration; this was followed by permanent residency at 37,860, and marriage migration at 32,373.

As for cities and counties, all except Gapyeong County had their migration numbers led by Chinese nationals. Ansan (37,952 persons) and Suwon (27,395 persons) accounted for 18.6% of all foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province, while Gapyeong was the only municipality with Japanese residents heading their list of foreign residents. 

Apart from Chinese nationals, Hwaseong City had the largest number of Vietnamese (3,920), Thai (3,482), Cambodian (1,947), Indonesian (1,919), and Filipino (1,886) migrants, while Pocheon was home to the largest group of Bangladeshi migrants (1,006). Finally, Seongnam and Pyeongtaek had the largest number of American nationals with 872 and 871 residents, respectively each. 

Gyeonggi Future Strategy Division Chief An Dong-gwang said, “With this analysis, we were able to understand changes among foreigners living in Gyeonggi Province.” Chief An added, “We will use this as baseline information when creating policies for foreign nationals.”

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Choi Hyeon-ho kanonjar@gmail.com

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