The number of unauthorized foreign residents in Korea dropped to the high 300,000s last year. This marks a decrease since it surpassed 400,000 in the latter half of 2022, about 2 years and 3 months ago. This downward trend is anticipated to persist this year, aligning with the Ministry of Justice's '5-Year Plan to Reduce Illegal Residence' initiated in 2023.

As reported by the Ministry of Justice on the 31st, the number of illegal foreign residents as of December 31, 2024, stands at 397,522. With a total foreign resident population of 2,657,883, this results in an illegal residence rate of approximately 15%.

The population of undocumented foreign residents in Korea surpassed 400,000 in the latter half of 2022. This figure has been on a steady rise, hitting 402,755 in September of that year and reaching a high of 433,890 by October 2023, before beginning to decline. The visa

The Employment Permit System (E-9) visa saw the most significant decline in new illegal residents compared to the previous year. Last year, there were 6,134 new illegal foreign residents with E-9 visas, marking a decrease of approximately 34% from 9,340 in 2023.

Conversely, the number of new unauthorized residences with E-7 visas, a specialized employment visa, surged by 63%, rising from 463 in 2023 to 756 in 2024. This suggests a rise in the number of illegal foreign residents as the government broadened E-7 visa issuance. By December 2024, the number of foreigners holding E-7 visas had grown by 41.3%, reaching 63,580, up from 44,993 in December 2023.

Last year, the Ministry of Justice collaborated with the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Korea Coast Guard on a 62-day crackdown from September 30 to November 30. This effort resulted in the apprehension of 11,844 individuals, including 8,476 illegal foreign residents, 1,692 illegal employers, and 16 brokers involved in illegal employment and entry. As of November, the Ministry of Justice had identified a record 43,404 illegal foreign residents, with 41,461 of them opting to leave the country voluntarily.