September 24, 2025
SEOUL – Researchers from India and China accounted for 60 percent of all foreign research visas issued by South Korea over the past five years, a report showed Tuesday.
According to data submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Rep. Lee Jeong-heon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 4,629 foreigners entered South Korea on E-3 research visas between 2020 and August 2025.
The E-3 visa is issued to foreign researchers engaged in natural sciences or advanced industrial technology research and development at public or private institutions in Korea.
Of the total, Indian nationals were the largest share with 2,262 researchers, or nearly half of all E-3 visa recipients during the period. China followed with 518 recipients. Together, researchers from India and China accounted for 60.1 percent of the total.
Other key countries of origin included Pakistan with 304 individuals, Iran with 184 and Vietnam with 162, the report said.
The number of E-3 visa recipients has declined for three consecutive years. After peaking at 1,059 in 2021, the number fell to 1,031 in 2022, 835 in 2023 and 621 last year. For the first eight months of 2025, the figure stood at 444.
However, the number of foreign residents on E-3 visas has remained fairly stable, with 3,122 in January 2020, compared to 3,263 at the end of last month, according to data from the Korean Immigration Service. Indians and Chinese made up the largest numbers in August, with 1,144, and 361 respectively, but Vietnamese were the third-largest with 305.
Foreign researchers may also be in Korea on other visas, especially residence visas, including the F-4 visa most ethnic Korean researchers qualify for.
Rep. Lee called for reducing reliance on certain countries for foreign researchers, noting that the continued decline in skilled foreign workers could pose security concerns and potential supply issues if relations with the countries of origin worsen.
“While expanding the foundation for global cooperation, we must also establish a research security framework to ensure the sustainable attraction of talent.”