This year, about 3 out of 10 foreigners residing in Korea who sent money abroad remitted 20 million won or more annually. The share is steadily rising. It is seen as an effect of higher incomes among foreign workers or business owners.
The National Data Office and the Ministry of Justice on the 19th announced the results of the "2025 survey on immigrants' residence status and employment," which included these findings. The survey asked 20,000 foreigners living nationwide about items such as monthly income and annual overseas remittance amounts through interviews or the internet.
The most common answer for annual overseas remittances was 20 million won or more at 30.9%. The rest were ▲ less than 10 million to 15 million won 19.7% ▲ less than 5 million to 10 million won 16.7% ▲ less than 15 million to 20 million won 16.2%.
The share answering that annual overseas remittances were 20 million won or more has been increasing. It was 19.3% in 2019, 22.4% in 2021, 29.3% in 2023, and 30.9% in 2025.
During the same period, the incomes of foreigners residing in Korea also appear to have risen. The share saying monthly income was 3 million won or more was tallied at 11.9% in 2019, 15.2% in 2021, 24.4% in 2023, and 26% in 2025. In this survey, the highest income bracket for foreigners is monthly income of 3 million won or more.
An official at the National Data Office said, "As wages for foreign workers have increased, the amount of overseas remittances has also grown."