Seoul: The number of foreigners entering South Korea for employment purposes decreased for the first time in four years in 2024, as the nation experienced reduced labor demand amid an economic downturn, recent data revealed.

According to Yonhap News Agency, 164,000 foreign nationals obtained working visas to come to South Korea in 2024, marking a 5.1 percent decrease from the previous year. This decline is highlighted in an annual report on international migration by Statistics Korea. The non-professional workforce segment was particularly affected, with arrivals dropping by 21.5 percent to 26,000, despite the Korean government's efforts to increase the quota for E-9 non-professional employment visas.

Yoo Soo-deok, an official at the statistics agency, attributed the decrease to diminished demand for foreign labor by Korean companies, a consequence of the sluggish economy. Additionally, the number of foreigners entering with short-term stay visas plummeted by 27.9 percent to 73,000, with those using the visa waiver program decreasing by 43 percent to 18,000. Conversely, there was a 19.2 percent rise in foreigners arriving with student and training visas, reaching a total of 99,000.

The report also detailed changes in the nationalities of incoming migrants. There was a noted decline in Chinese nationals migrating to Korea, falling by 20,000 to 112,000 in 2024. The number of Thai nationals decreased significantly to 21,000 from 35,000 in the previous year. However, migrants from Vietnam increased by 18,000 to 88,000, and 23,000 Americans also relocated to Korea.

Overall, the total number of incoming foreign migrants fell by 6 percent to 451,000, while the number of outgoing foreigners rose by 10.7 percent to 353,000. Migrants are defined as individuals leaving their country of usual residence for more than 90 days.

Meanwhile, data indicated that more South Koreans returned to their homeland than those leaving, a first in four years. The incoming migration of Korean nationals surged by 26.5 percent to 276,000, while the number of outgoing Korean migrants decreased by 3.5 percent to 249,000. This shift was attributed to many Koreans returning after having left during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 and 2023, following the lifting of travel restrictions.