Foreign Workers in Korea Reach All-Time High, Top 900,000 as Economy Expands Opportunities
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The number of foreign workers in Korea reached an all-time high of 923,000 as of May 2022, up 9.5% from the previous year.
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This is the highest number since Statistics Korea began tracking foreign worker data in 2012, when there were 698,000 foreign workers.
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Over 50% of foreign workers earn between 2-3 million won per month; top expenses are living costs, overseas remittances, and savings.
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70,000 of the new foreign workers are aged 15-29 years old, with many coming for higher wages and Korea's education system.
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Korea plans to accept a record 165,000 new foreign workers on E-9 visas in 2023, expanding eligible industries.