Yongin City Surpasses 20,000 Registered Foreigners for the First Time Due to Increased International Students

Clear Increase in University Areas like Jungang and Seonong-dong... 1,230 More in September Alone
"Will Strengthen Education and Living Conditions for Semiconductor Workforce and International Students"

The number of registered foreigners in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, has exceeded 20,000 for the first time. The city analyzes that the steady increase in international students at local universities is the main reason.

Yongin City announced on the 11th that as of the end of September, the number of registered foreigners reached 20,796, surpassing 20,000 for the first time since the city's establishment.

The number of registered foreigners in Yongin City exceeded 10,000 in 2006, reaching 11,280. Since then, it continued to increase, reaching 18,982 by the end of 2019, but sharply declined to 16,731 in 2020 and 16,157 in 2021 due to restrictions on cross-border movement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it showed signs of recovery with 17,323 in 2022, increased to 18,995 last year, and surpassed 20,000 for the first time this September.

The city explained that the number of registered foreigners increased by as many as 1,230 in September alone. This is largely attributed to the influx of international students for the fall semester, according to the city's own analysis. The areas where the number of registered foreigners surged in September include Jungang-dong in Cheoin-gu, Seonong and Gugal-dong in Giheung-gu, and Jukjeon 3-dong in Suji-gu. These areas include major university districts such as Myongji University, Kangnam University, Kyung Hee University, and Dankook University.

The city views the foreign population exceeding 20,000 as an important turning point for municipal policies such as multicultural policies. Currently, among Yongin City's 38 eup, myeon, and dong districts, 12 have foreign populations in the low 20,000s or less. The number of registered foreigners is equivalent to the population of one eup, myeon, or dong within the city.

The city is strengthening existing multicultural family policies implemented from a welfare policy perspective, while also seeking ways to turn the incoming foreigners into a new driving force for the city's development.

Separately from registered foreigners, the city manages statistics on foreign nationals of Korean descent who have reported their residence, numbering over 8,500, and estimates that the actual number of foreigners residing in Yongin exceeds 32,000.

Existing foreigner policies have focused on supporting multicultural family children’s educational activities, translation and interpretation services for marriage immigrants, Korean language education, support for settling in Korean society, and emergency support for foreigners in crisis situations. However, the city plans to establish a new level of foreigner policies as the influx of highly skilled foreign personnel, centered on semiconductor companies, is increasing and the number of international students is rapidly growing.

Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il emphasized, "We will make various efforts, including improving the educational environment and living conditions, so that highly skilled personnel who will lead the semiconductor industry can come to Yongin."