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South Korea → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Korea
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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KR1<GB5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from South Korea to the United Kingdom

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

Inflows by year

3,0006,00020122015
3,0006,00020122015
Data table
20121,000
20133,000
20146,000
20152,000
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——142
2022——149
2021——142
2020——163
2019——258
2018——312
2017——293
2016——434
20152,000—329
20146,000—372
20133,000—608
20121,000—479
2011——529
2010——764
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of South Korea, and students from South Korea at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study3,930
  2. Work2,458
  3. Other195
  4. Visitor152
  5. Family111

Visas issued by year

4,5629,123201020122014201620182020202220242025
4,5629,123201020132016201920222025
Data table
20109,056
20118,475
20128,304
20139,123
20148,713
20158,564
20168,354
20178,530
20188,129
20198,085
20204,443
20216,620
20226,662
20236,710
20247,335
20256,846

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

2,8835,76520152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,8835,765201520172019202120232025
Data table
20154,775
20165,090
20175,265
20185,480
20195,615
20205,765
20214,790
20225,040
20235,265
20245,205
20255,115
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

First residence permits issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of South Korea (Eurostat).

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019002585,579
20185,86503125,337
20176,95102935,157
20166,69304345,024
20157,56003294,759
20146,43603724,752
20136,69906084,567
20126,00904790
20117,28505290
20108,73807640
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyJung Districtgov.uk
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from South Korea move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from South Korea, 2023
  1. Japan27,566
  2. United States14,240
  3. Germany6,599
  4. Canada5,205
  5. Australia2,740
  6. Hungary2,535
  7. New Zealand2,061
  8. Netherlands1,447
  9. Mexico579
  10. 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