South Korea’s migrant-background population is steadily increasing and becoming new members of Korean society. AI-generated image
○ In our country, 1 in 20 people has overseas experience
● Gathering to work, study, and reunite with family
On December 8 last year, the National Data Agency released the first official statistics on the migrant-background population. The term “migrant-background population” is different from that of ordinary foreign nationals who do not hold Korean citizenship. It encompasses all foreigners who stay and live in Korea for more than three months, as well as people who themselves, or at least one of their parents, were born abroad.
As of November 2024, South Korea’s migrant-background population stands at about 2.715 million people, accounting for 5.2% of the total population. This is an increase of roughly 134,000 people compared with 2023. Over 90% originate from Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan, with others coming from the United States, Russia, and Canada.
Unlike countries such as the United States, Australia, and Singapore, where migrants have long been settled, South Korea’s migrant-background population began to grow in earnest in the 1980s. In 2005 they made up only about 1% of the total population, but by 2011 this had risen to around 2.5%. Projections suggest that by the 2050s the proportion of migrant-background residents will reach around 7–10%.
The biggest reason for the increase in migrants is jobs. Currently, people in their 30s account for 24.3% of the migrant-background population, followed by those in their 20s at 21.0%, and those in their 40s at 15.4%. As low birth rates have gradually reduced the number of workers relative to available jobs, the government has spent the past 20 or so years actively accepting foreigners of working age who wish to work in Korea.
Migrant-background people in the media. Captures from YouTube channels ‘MBCentertainment’, ‘JTBC Voyage’, and ‘Pado Pado Studio’
In addition, more and more people are migrating after marrying Koreans, or coming to Korea to study because they are interested in Korean culture.
Accordingly, the number of multicultural families, in which at least one parent has a migrant background, is also steadily increasing. According to the National Data Agency, about 738,000 children and adolescents in South Korea belong to the migrant-background population.
Yet many people still assume someone is “probably not Korean” simply because their appearance or culture seems different. The commonly used expression “Korean ethnic people” (Hanminjok) also has limitations when it comes to encompassing all Koreans.
Professor Ilya Belyakov of the Department of Foreign Languages at Suwon University explains, “Even among people with Korean nationality, the number of ‘ethnic minorities’ whose identity is based on non-Hanminjok ethnic backgrounds is gradually increasing.”
He continued, “The criterion that brings together the majority Hanminjok and the minority migrant-background population into a single group is nationality,” adding, “Sharing the same nationality means living under the same constitution and having the same rights and duties.”
As more children with migrant backgrounds grow up, schools are transforming into spaces where a wider range of cultures coexist. Provided by Getty Images Bank
○ There is only one kind of human
● Regardless of appearance, genetic information matches 99.9%
Modern humans are a single species whose genome is 99.9% identical. Within Homo sapiens, genes from Neanderthals and other archaic humans account for only about 1–4%.
The first modern humans emerged in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago and then spread across the world. As they adapted to the environments of different regions, certain genes changed. As a result, functional traits such as skin color, hair, eye color, and susceptibility to particular diseases diverged. These are called phenotypes, or expressed traits.
A representative example is skin color. People living near the equator, where sunlight is intense, are heavily exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV light helps synthesize vitamin D, but excessive exposure can damage DNA and cause skin cancer.
Here, melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and irises absorbs UV rays and prevents them from penetrating deep into the body. Thus, in regions with strong UV radiation, people with dark skin rich in melanin had a survival advantage, and this trait was passed on to their descendants.
Conversely, in high-latitude regions with little sunlight, people needed to absorb more UV rays to synthesize sufficient vitamin D. This meant that individuals with lighter skin containing less melanin were more likely to survive.
Other external features such as hair shape, eyelids, and nose height also reflect long-term adaptation to local conditions including sunlight, humidity, and temperature.
However, these differences arise from variations in only 0.1% of all genes and are not criteria for distinguishing separate species. Even monozygotic twins with 100% identical genetic information can develop different phenotypes—such as height and body shape—depending on diet and lifestyle.
Professor Hyeon Jeh-hwan of the Department of Philosophy at Hanyang University explains, “Specific genetic variants are not essential qualities of a group; they are ecological records shaped by surrounding environments over long periods of time.” He added, “We should not divide people into races or other fixed groups and then treat differences between individuals as biological inevitabilities.”
Korean society is transforming into a community built together by people with diverse cultures and backgrounds. Image provided by Ilya Belyakov and Getty Images Bank
○ Seeing diversity as it is
● In the space of Korean society, everyone living here is Korean
“Different does not mean wrong. In fact, precisely because things are different, they can be more fun and intriguing.”
Asked about “difference,” Professor Ilya said, “Because we are all different from one another, we are pushed to think harder about what we can learn from each other.”
In the future, as the migrant-background population continues to grow, it will become increasingly important for newcomers and existing residents to adapt to each other’s cultures. We need to recognize that phrases like “Korean bloodline” or “yellow race” do not properly represent people in Korea, and carefully consider which forms of language divide and discriminate against others.
Not only is it discriminatory to disparage particular countries or cultures, but it can also be discriminatory to ask, based solely on someone’s appearance, “Which country are you from?”
Professor Hyeon said, “It is not desirable to define ‘Koreans’ purely on biological criteria such as genes, or solely on the basis of particular historical or cultural narratives.” He continued, “The identity of ‘Koreans’ today is something being jointly created by all members of our society, including migrants.”
It is also crucial to build a social environment in which everyone can fully realize their potential.
Professor Ilya remarked, “The difference between a good society and a less good one lies in how conflicts are resolved.”
He went on, “Over the past 20 or so years, our society has been developing in a more inclusive direction toward migrant-background populations,” emphasizing, “Since a society without conflict does not exist, we need to work together to resolve problems and foster a climate of peaceful coexistence.”
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