South Korea has low immigration due to restrictive immigration policies resulting from strong opposition to immigrants from the general Korean public. According to the United Nations , in foreign born residents represented 2. Those who have at least one South Korean parent are automatically granted South Korean nationality from birth, regardless of their decisions on whether to choose the nationality of the foreign parent or the country of birth if born outside South Korea.
In the UN declared South Korea an official receiving country. The number of foreigners in South Korea grew from , in to 1 million in Among these are , temporary laborers, as well as , foreigners married to South Korean nationals. Furthermore, there are , illegal immigrants. Nominally, the South Korean government says it wants to create a multicultural society and foreigner-friendly environment.
The number of immigrants in South Korea has increased since , [ 7 ] but immigrants have problems adjusting due to various issues. Some issues facing immigrants are low wages, lack of support systems, language barriers, and difficulty gaining citizenship.
Another problem Immigrants face is discrimination. South Korea currently has a variety of long-term visa options for those interested in residing in the country. The S-3 work visa is available to foreigners employed by Korean employers. The D-2 student visa is available to foreigners enrolled in an eligible university or language program. South Korea also offers a temporary resident visa which allows stays for up to five years, known as the F-4 visa.
There is the F-2 visa, which allows residency by marrying a South Korean citizen. The initial permit is issued for three years, then an application for the F5 can be submitted. The F-5 allows permanent residency or long-term status extension. To keep this visa, visits to Korea every two years are required, and the visa needs to be renewed after ten years. Marrying a Korean citizen is a requirement to obtain Korean citizenship.
