By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) — A survey conducted by Statistics Korea has revealed that 80% of expats living in South Korea are pleased with their life here, although roughly 20% have experienced discrimination.
40.8% of the surveyed respondents expressed that they were “extremely satisfied” with living in South Korea, while another 39.6% said they were “slightly satisfied”. The survey was conducted on 25,000 expats last year, out of a total estimated population of 1.75 million.
The expats were largely satisfied with their living environment and the people, but were less positive about their income. 43.4% of the respondents identified language barriers as one of the main challenges they faced, and 27.8% mentioned cultural differences. 19.7% of the expats reported that they had experienced discrimination.
Expats were most likely to experience discrimination in shops, restaurants, banks and workplaces, as opposed to schools, universities and public organizations. Of those who experienced discrimination, 58% attributed it to their nationality, 27.9% to their ability to speak Korean, and 8.3% to their appearance.
Visitors participate in a cultural event held in Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on May 7, 2023. (Yonhap)
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