KUALA LUMPUR - Seven out of ten foreigners living in Seoul say they intend to continue residing in the city, while eight out of ten would recommend it to friends and family.

According to Chosun Media, the Seoul Metropolitan Government released the findings of its “2025 Seoul Survey” on January 25, based on responses from 2,500 foreign residents polled between August and September last year.

The proportion of respondents who said they would continue living in Seoul rose sharply to 75 per cent, marking a 19-percentage-point increase from 56 per cent in 2024, while those who would recommend the city climbed 3.6 percentage points to 81.8 per cent from 78.2 per cent a year earlier.

“There is a high level of satisfaction with Seoul’s convenient public transportation, the level of public safety that allows for comfortable movement even at night, and the fast education and welfare administrative service.

“As K-culture gains popularity worldwide, interest in living in Seoul seems to have grown,” a city official said.

Suresh Chaulagain, a 27-year-old Nepalese who has lived in Seoul for five years said he came here to study and then got a job at a company in Seoul.

“Public transportation is convenient and safe, so I would like to continue living here if possible,” he said.

Despite the overall satisfaction, respondents cited difficulties including filing and resolving complaints through public administrative agencies (31.3 per cent), securing economic opportunities (31.1 per cent), and educating and raising children (31.0 per cent).

The number of foreigners living in Seoul increased by 37,006, or 15 per cent, over the past five years from 242,623 in 2020 to 279,629 last year.

By nationality, the sharpest increases were recorded among residents from Myanmar at 362 per cent, followed by Nepal at 262 per cent and Bangladesh at 97 per cent.