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Korea is witnessing a pattern of “reverse migration” from countries such as the United States, Canada and Britain that were once considered dream destinations for people seeking new opportunities.
According to the Overseas Koreans Agency, the number of permanent residents who resettled in Korea after obtaining long-stay visas or permanent resident cards abroad has been on the rise in recent years — 1,478 in 2019, 1,676 in 2020, 1,812 in 2021, 1,736 in 2022 and 1,742 in 2023.
The costs of living, safety, infrastructure and health care were some of the factors that made some Koreans return to their homeland.
Several YouTube videos of Koreans talking about the tough reality of immigrant life and the reasons they choose to return have been going viral lately.
One of them is a YouTuber named hyuncouple, whose family recently returned to Korea after moving to Canada in late 2018. Permanent residency was his ultimate goal when his family left the country. But his Canadian dream quickly lost its allure a few years into his life there.
“The reality of immigrant life in Canada was pretty rough. There are pros and cons to living in Korea, too, but we eventually decided to move back. We also missed our family,” he said in a video.
A YouTuber called Konglish Bubu, an international couple living in Silicon Valley, said they plan to relocate to Korea early next year when they retire.
“The transport infrastructure and accessibility to local services in Korea are so convenient compared to the U.S. Monthly rent, taxes and eating at restaurants is so expensive here,” Kongbu, the wife of the couple, said in a video.
A YouTuber called Captain Seung, who lived for about 10 years in Kansas before returning to Seoul in late 2023, said it's a relief to be back.
“There are four things that I love about living in Korea. It's cheaper to eat out compared to the U.S. It's safer. Korea has a lot of (security cameras) on all streets, block by block. The speedy delivery system and delivery culture make life so convenient,” she said in her video.
Experts say various factors, from a sense of belonging to medical care, have driven this trend of reverse migration.
“Humans have a natural instinct to feel a sense of belonging in one's homeland as they get older. The hope of returning home can be stronger for those who had difficulty living abroad, especially among the younger generation who experienced racism or language barriers,” Seol Dong-hoon, a Jeonbuk National University sociology professor, said.
There are economic motivations, too.
“Korea is a developed country. It offers better medical services compared with the U.S. or Britain. The fact that older adults who wish to move back to Korea after retirement can receive basic pensions regardless of their financial circumstances is also a contributing factor,” Seol said. “Therefore, the government has to discuss how the permanent residents who resettled in Korea can fulfill their legal duties rather than simply enjoying pension benefits.”
Since 2011, the Ministry of Justice has been implementing a dual nationality system that allows Korean nationals living abroad who are aged 65 and older to restore their Korean nationality and reside in Korea under the condition that they “do not exercise their rights as foreign nationals.”
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the total amount of basic pension granted to people with dual nationality was 21.2 billion won ($15.4 million) last year, up ninefold compared to 2.28 billion won in 2014. The number of older adults with multiple nationalities receiving basic pensions also increased fivefold from 1,047 in 2014 to 5,699 last year.