Illegal Foreign Residents on the Increase

The number of foreigners residing in Korea illegally has grown steadily over the past few years.

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According to Justice Ministry data, as of July there were more than 213,000 undocumented immigrants or people who overstayed their visas. That's up 27 percent from six years ago, and accounts for more than 10 percent of the foreign population here.

The number of illegal aliens has risen steadily since 2011, reflecting rapid growth in the overall size of Korea's foreign community. Although the data didn't include details of country of origin, the majority of illegal migrants to Korea have historically been from China and Southeast Asia. Illegal migration from the Middle East and Africa has also risen in recent years.

If caught, illegal immigrants are subject to deportation. Roughly 10 percent of unauthorized immigrants are sent back to their home countries every year.