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South Korea → Japan

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Korea
To
Japan
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
27,566
Change since 2018
-15.0%
Share of all arrivals in Japan, 2023
4.45%
Inflow 202327,566OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<JPSOUTH<KOREA<JAPAN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KR1<JP8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from South Korea to Japan

Inflows of nationals of South Korea recorded by Japan; stock of nationals of South Korea living there; and acquisitions of Japan's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

17k34k200020032006200920122015201820212023
17k34k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200024,327
200124,690
200222,906
200321,895
200422,798
200522,742
200624,714
200728,091
200830,043
200926,979
201027,868
201123,360
201225,748
201324,202
201421,116
201522,571
201625,639
201728,006
201832,417
201933,858
20208,325
20212,885
202223,129
202327,566
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—410,156—
202327,566411,3122,807
202223,129409,8552,663
20212,885426,9083,564
20208,325446,3644,113
201933,858449,6344,360
201832,417450,6634,357
201728,006453,0965,631
201625,639457,7725,434
201522,571501,2305,247
201421,116519,7404,744
201324,202530,0464,331
201225,748545,4015,581
201123,360565,9895,656
201027,868578,4956,668
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in South Korea who live in Japan: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

334k668k19901995200020052010201520202024
334k668k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990668,326
1995642,133
2000608,398
2005569,953
2010540,208
2015521,159
2020451,485
2024393,944
Estimate, 2024
393,944
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
11.6%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
3
Counted by
citizenship
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Residents in Japan

Citizens of South Korea living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan).

Residents in work-related statuses

19k38k20152017201920232025
19k38k20152017201920232025
Data table
201524,801
201627,123
201730,111
201833,022
201935,858
202230,624
202332,110
202434,688
202537,609
DecemberAll residentsWork-related statusesEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesSpecified Skilled WorkerTechnical Intern TrainingStudentPermanent ResidentDependent
2025407,34137,60928,457527014,52377,0138,646
2024409,23834,68826,180342014,39876,3468,836
2023410,15632,11024,125246014,67175,6759,040
2022411,31230,62423,083157014,12474,8059,316
2019446,36435,85827,3886017,73272,39111,829
2018449,63433,02224,6020117,05671,09412,061
2017450,66330,11121,60301315,91269,39112,211
2016453,09627,12318,9360415,43868,03312,187
2015457,77224,80116,66901915,40566,32612,470
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Workers in Japan (employment reports)

Citizens of South Korea working in Japan, as reported by employers at the end of each October (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Workers by year (end of October)

40k80k20212022202320242025
40k80k20212022202320242025
Data table
202167,638
202267,335
202371,454
202475,003
202580,193
By industry, October 2025
  1. Wholesale and retail trade16,003
  2. Other industries15,331
  3. Information and communications10,828
  4. Accommodation and food services10,415
  5. Other services9,776
  6. Manufacturing7,313
  7. Education5,425
  8. Health and welfare3,475
  9. Construction1,627
Workers, October 2025
80,193
Change on a year earlier
+6.9%
Via dispatch or contracting firms
10.5%
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), reports on the employment of foreign workers, end of October 2025 (Public Data License 1.0)Data as at Oct 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Japan in South Korea, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyJongno Districtkr.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalBusanbusan.kr.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalJeju Provincejeju.kr.emb-japan.go.jp
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Japan, 2023; South Korea ranks 7.

Inflows to Japan, 2023
  1. Vietnam133,732
  2. China106,717
  3. Indonesia67,088
  4. Nepal39,564
  5. Philippines37,338
  6. Myanmar30,849
  7. South Korea27,566
  8. United States19,684
  9. Thailand16,777
  10. Taiwan13,603
  11. Sri Lanka11,328
  12. India10,547
Other destinations for people from South Korea, 2023
  1. United States14,240
  2. Germany6,599
  3. Canada5,205
  4. Australia2,740
  5. Hungary2,535
  6. New Zealand2,061
  7. Netherlands1,447
  8. Mexico579
  9. Austria490
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more