Decrease in Population through International Migration

With more and more people staying overseas longer, the population decrease through international migration over the last four years amounted to 320,000.

According to the “Statistics on Migration of the Global Population” presented on October 20 by the Korean National Statistical Office (KNSO), a total of 305,447 Koreans stayed overseas for more than 90 days, termed long-term departures, in 2003 while the number of long-term entries was 235,557, which presents an actual decrease in the population by 69,890 people. Long-term entries are defined as Koreans who returned from long-term visits of more than 90 days to overseas countries.

It is the first time the KNSO presented statistical data on the number of long-term departures (those who stayed overseas for more than 90 days) who are considered to be among the international movement of population according to the U.N. standard. Totaling up the statistics from the last four years (2000~2003), the report shows that total number of Koreans decreased by 319,430 through international migration.

Annually, the population decreased by 83,678 in 2000; 95,871 in 2001; and 69,991 in 2002.

In terms of age, those younger than 29 years old accounted for the largest portion of the 72.3 percent of the total outflow of Korean population (the difference between the number of departures and the numbers of entries) of last year with 50,550, most of whom are staying overseas for educational purposes.

The most popular reasons for departure recorded on the declaration of departure filled out last year by Koreans were tour and observation with 90,877 people; studying with 49,933; and visits with 46,535. The emigrating population was 8,317.

Yong Park parky@donga.com