No. of foreigners who feel discriminated against in Seoul drops sharply: survey

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sat, December 9, 2023 | 18:17

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No. of foreigners who feel discriminated against in Seoul drops sharply: survey

Posted : 2023-05-25 16:56

Updated : 2023-05-25 21:12

Foreigners, dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, visit Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in this March 29 photo. Yonhap

More foreign residents living in Seoul feel happier than Koreans

By Ko Dong-hwan

The number of foreign residents in Seoul who felt discriminated against by local Koreans in 2022 dropped significantly from two years earlier, according to a survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the details of which were released, Thursday.

Among the 2,500 foreign respondents, who had been legally residing in the city for 91 days or longer, 38.1 percent indicated that they had experienced discrimination from Korean nationals, down 15 percent from 2020.

The survey was conducted from Sep. 15 to Oct. 31, during which surveyors from the Big Data Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Digital Policy Bureau visited the homes of respondents.

Most of the foreign residents who felt discriminated against said they experienced such treatment in the workplace, which accounted for 28 percent, while 20 percent said they experienced discrimination at local shops, restaurants or banks.

About 17 percent experienced discrimination while dealing with housing and accommodation-related matters, either from local realtors or landlords. Some 16 percent said they were not given proper attention by officials at government offices.

When asked why they thought they were discriminated against, 47 percent said it had to do with their nationality. Language problems and skin color ― 41 percent and 36 percent, respectively ― rounded out the top three reasons for discrimination.

The survey was designed to determine: the level of belongingness foreign residents feel toward Seoul; the degree of favorable impression from the city; whether or not foreign residents were feeling discrimination from Koreans; what kind of hardships are faced living in the metropolis; and how much foreign residents are committed to continuing to live in the capital or recommending the city to others.

International students of Korea University in Seoul join the 20th International Student Festival at the school campus in Seongbuk District, May 11. Korea Times file

Foreign residents in Seoul faced various hardships, according to the survey. The most commonly cited hardship ― mentioned by almost 50 percent of respondents ― was that they found themselves lost when considering how to raise or educate their children in Seoul. The issue was particularly reflected by respondents in their 40s and 50s.

Other problems the majority of the respondents mentioned more frequently included difficulties in finding jobs and housing. Other minor grievances included immigration and visa regulation-related problems, accessing medical services, filing complaints through government offices, forming a rapport with Korean neighbors, dealing with racial bigotry, language communication issues and not enjoying Korean food.

While those in their 20s and 30s said their visa or immigration status was their greatest concern, those in their 60s and older mostly worried about finding jobs.

Despite a myriad of hardships, the majority of respondents said they were content with living in Seoul. Over 56 percent said they want to keep living here, while over 57 percent said they would like to recommend the capital to others as a suitable place to reside long-term.

The survey also assessed the level of contentment they feel as Seoulites. On a scale of one to 10, their average index of "feeling happy living in Seoul" was 7.07, whereas that of local Koreans in the city was 6.72.

Whether they felt a sense of connection to Seoul or Korea differed by nationality. More people from Asian countries responded that they felt a connection to living in the city of Seoul rather than Korea as a country. Among those from Western countries, however, more said they felt they are living in Korea, not Seoul.

aoshima11@koreatimes.co.kr