Foreign Home Ownership in South Korea Nears 100,000, Vietnamese Buyers Double
By the end of 2025, foreign nationals held almost 100,000 residential properties in South Korea, with Vietnamese ownership more than doubling over three years.
According to the Korea Statistical Information Service, foreign nationals owned 99,215 homes in South Korea by late 2025, a rise of about 30% from 2022. Chinese investors account for 59.5% of these properties, with Americans holding 19.6% and Canadians 5.6%. Vietnamese ownership more than doubled, jumping from 842 homes in 2022 to 1,773 in 2025.
Tax data cited by Rep. Kim Mi-ae indicate foreign landlords earned 84.2 billion won in rental revenue for 2024, up 32% from 2021. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport flagged 840 potentially illegal transactions involving foreigners for investigation through December, examining funding sources and possible visa-free rental operations.
Why it matters
Rising foreign ownership and rental income highlight growing international investment and regulatory scrutiny in South Korea's housing market.
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