A Ministry of Data and Statistics survey has found that 68.7% of foreign workers in the country last year were "satisfied" with their jobs, with non-professional (77%) and professional staff (74.7%) reporting higher rates. (iClickArt) (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of this image is prohibited under copyright law.)

By Lee Jihae

More than a third of foreign workers in the country earn over KRW 3 million per month.

The Ministry of Data and Statistics on March 10 said this in its 2025 joint survey with the Ministry of Justice on the residential and employment status of immigrants.

Among wage earners, those pulling in between KRW 2 million and KRW 3 million per month comprised the biggest group with 50.2%, followed by 36.9% who made over KRW 3 million.

By visa type, 68.9% of non-professional workers, 48.9% of marriage immigrants and 42.8% of visiting workers said they made KRW 2 million to KRW 3 million monthly. Yet 59.3% of permanent residents, 50.8% of professional workers and 46.3% of ethnic Koreans from abroad said they earned over KRW 3 million.

In addition, 58.1% of international workers said they worked 40-50 hours per week, 17.8% 50-60 and 8.7% 60 or more.

The study said 68.7% of foreign workers were "satisfied" with their jobs, with the rates higher for non-professional (77%) and professional staff (74.7%).

The number of expats in May last year reached 1,692,000, with most non-professional and professional workers and marriage immigrants hailing from Asian countries such as Uzbekistan and the Philippines.

Ethnic Koreans from China comprised the majority of those on visas for visiting workers, ethnic Koreans from overseas and permanent residents.

Vietnamese accounted for the largest percentage of international students (42.3%).

jihlee08@korea.kr