Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in South Korea
South Korea: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin was 629 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in South Korea, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
South Korea recorded 629 for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in 2025.
The figure is down 42.2% on the previous year and up 149.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in South Korea peaked at 1,089 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 173, in 2011.
South Korea ranks 120th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 359 | — |
| 2001 | 471 | +31.2% |
| 2002 | 604 | +28.2% |
| 2003 | 499 | -17.4% |
| 2004 | 307 | -38.5% |
| 2005 | 321 | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 308 | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 384 | +24.7% |
| 2008 | 509 | +32.6% |
| 2009 | 318 | -37.5% |
| 2010 | 233 | -26.7% |
| 2011 | 173 | -25.8% |
| 2012 | 183 | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 212 | +15.8% |
| 2014 | 282 | +33.0% |
| 2015 | 252 | -10.6% |
| 2016 | 266 | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 381 | +43.2% |
| 2018 | 536 | +40.7% |
| 2019 | 643 | +20.0% |
| 2020 | 723 | +12.4% |
| 2021 | 893 | +23.5% |
| 2022 | 880 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 939 | +6.7% |
| 2024 | 1,089 | +16.0% |
| 2025 | 629 | -42.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 629 is above the median for high income countries, which is 112, 5.6× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 629 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 562.5, 1.1× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 408 | 307 | 604 | 10 |
| 2010s | 316.1 | 173 | 643 | 10 |
| 2020s | 858.83 | 629 | 1,089 | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More social development data for South Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,407 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in South Korea?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin in South Korea was 629 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1,089 in 2024.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 173 in 2011.
- How does South Korea rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin?
- South Korea ranks 120th out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 149.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.