China → South Korea
Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows
- From
- China
- To
- South Korea
- Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
- 132,855
- Change since 2018
- -21.9%
- Share of all arrivals in South Korea, 2023
- 27.69%
Inflow 2023132,855OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from China to South Korea
Inflows of nationals of China recorded by South Korea; stock of nationals of China living there; and acquisitions of South Korea's nationality (OECD).
Inflows by year
Data table
| 2000 | 64,822 |
| 2001 | 66,979 |
| 2002 | 55,721 |
| 2003 | 52,418 |
| 2004 | 67,409 |
| 2005 | 115,811 |
| 2006 | 161,156 |
| 2007 | 177,034 |
| 2008 | 161,734 |
| 2009 | 117,563 |
| 2010 | 155,252 |
| 2011 | 149,208 |
| 2012 | 127,787 |
| 2013 | 179,307 |
| 2014 | 193,768 |
| 2015 | 177,831 |
| 2016 | 166,508 |
| 2017 | 157,757 |
| 2018 | 170,213 |
| 2019 | 139,425 |
| 2020 | 96,980 |
| 2021 | 95,497 |
| 2022 | 95,888 |
| 2023 | 132,855 |
| Year | Inflow | Stock | Acquired nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 828,715 | — |
| 2023 | 132,855 | 779,782 | 5,081 |
| 2022 | 95,888 | 780,876 | 4,654 |
| 2021 | 95,497 | 818,824 | 5,398 |
| 2020 | 96,980 | 889,195 | 8,122 |
| 2019 | 139,425 | 888,147 | 4,620 |
| 2018 | 170,213 | 838,908 | 5,092 |
| 2017 | 157,757 | 826,143 | 5,097 |
| 2016 | 166,508 | 810,554 | 5,331 |
| 2015 | 177,831 | 756,408 | 6,755 |
| 2014 | 193,768 | 651,267 | 7,056 |
| 2013 | 179,307 | — | 5,805 |
| 2012 | 127,787 | 610,713 | 6,282 |
| 2011 | 149,208 | 537,637 | 11,721 |
| 2010 | 155,252 | 493,600 | — |
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023
Migrant population
People born in China who live in South Korea: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).
Migrant population by year
Data table
| 1990 | 9,546 |
| 1995 | 13,384 |
| 2000 | 53,430 |
| 2005 | 97,854 |
| 2010 | 296,477 |
| 2015 | 662,499 |
| 2020 | 751,745 |
| 2024 | 756,684 |
- Estimate, 2024
- 756,684
- Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
- 41.8%
- Rank among countries of birth, 2024
- 1
- Counted by
- country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024
Embassy and consulates
Missions of South Korea in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.
| Mission | City | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy | Chaoyang District | overseas.mofa.go.kr |
| Consulate-general | Chengdu | — |
| Consulate-general | Chengyang District | — |
| Consulate-general | Haizhu District | overseas.mofa.go.kr |
| Consulate-general | Hong Kong | hkg.mofa.go.kr |
| Consulate-general | Shanghai | overseas.mofa.go.kr |
| Consulate-general | Wuhan | — |
| Consulate-general | Xi'an | — |
| Consulate-general | — | overseas.mofa.go.kr |
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026
Compared with other corridors
Nationalities with the most arrivals in South Korea, 2023; China ranks 1.
- China132,855
- Vietnam70,827
- Thailand34,846
- United States23,710
- Nepal20,147
- Uzbekistan19,121
- Indonesia18,022
- Russia17,550
- Philippines17,458
- Cambodia14,247
- Myanmar12,601
- Mongolia11,729
- Japan106,717
- United States57,240
- Canada39,350
- Australia36,349
- New Zealand26,214
- Germany20,866
- Spain20,471
- Italy8,062
- Netherlands7,991
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023
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