South Korea releases report on overseas diasporas

Foreign ministry tallies 7.5 million in 180 countries . . .

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry released the report ‘Status of Overseas Diaspora 2019’ on September 24. South Korean embassies abroad compile information to create the report every two years. The report defines ‘diaspora’ as South Korean citizens living abroad for an extended period of time or those with Korean heritage who live abroad, regardless of their citizenship. In the latest version, South Korean babies adopted outside of North America were tallied for the first time, underscoring the intent of the government to recognize this marginalized group of 47,506 individuals (with an additional 120,000 adoptees in North America). According to the report, there are approximately 7.5 million members of the South Korean diaspora in 180 countries, and the numbers have increased by 0.85 per cent since the end of 2016.

South Korean diaspora in Canada . . .

According to the new report, the fourth largest group of South Koreans overseas is in Canada, with 241,750 persons of Korean heritage (3.23 per cent of the total), a 17 per cent increase from 205,993 in 2013. According to Statics Canada, immigrants from South Korea accounted for 1.8 per cent of total recent immigrants to Canada in 2016, making them the tenth largest group that year. The trend underscores Canada’s increasing appeal for South Koreans seeking opportunities abroad.

What do we know about the Canadian diaspora . . .

South Korea’s latest report points to an important area of research amid globalization of commercial and people-to-people activities. In an increasingly interconnected world, diaspora populations – with their knowledge and networks – could be a great asset for governments seeking to deepen ties with other governments. APF Canada conducted a research project on the status of Canadians abroad in 2011, which found that there were 2.8 million Canadians living abroad and made several policy recommendations to better support and leverage these diasporas. Further studies on the Canadian diaspora and different diaspora groups within Canada could provide vital data for policy-makers.

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