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The number of foreign nationals residing in South Korea approached 1.7 million as of May last year, government data showed Tuesday.

The total number came to 1.69 million as of last May, up 8.4 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The figure refers to foreigners aged 15 and older who have resided in the country for more than 91 days.

By category, overseas Koreans with foreign nationalities accounted for the largest share, at 24.2 percent, followed by non-professional employment visa holders, at 19 percent, the data showed. International students accounted for 14 percent, and permanent residents accounted for 9.6 percent.

Among foreign nationals, ethnic Koreans with Chinese nationality accounted for 29.9 percent of the total, followed by those from Vietnam with 16 percent, the data showed.

The data also showed that 65.5 percent of foreign nationals had jobs as of May.

Among those employed, 10.8 percent of foreign workers said they were seeking new jobs, with most citing low income as the main reason.

About 32 percent of foreign nationals reported earning a monthly income between 2 million won (US$1,362) and 3 million won, the data showed.

The data also showed 12.9 percent of foreigners said they experienced financial difficulties over the past year.

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South Korea will receive more than 6 million barrels of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Cheong Wa Dae said Friday, amid concerns over energy prices due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, announced the plan to purchase crude oil from the Gulf state in a briefing as the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes in the region have sparked fears of an energy crisis.

“At the instructions of President Lee Jae Myung, we have made consultations over measures to introduce crude oil and as a result, an emergency introduction of more than 6 million barrels has been confirmed,” he said, noting the move is expected to help stabilize oil prices.

Kang stressed the need for the emergency measure, noting that 70 percent of crude oil supplied to South Korea passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been shut down due to the conflict.

Two South Korean oil tankers will be sent to a UAE port that does not require passage through the strait to receive 4 million barrels of crude oil, he said, adding the UAE pledged to provide 2 million barrels from a joint reserve stored in South Korea.

The total amount is equivalent to more than two times the supply used by South Korea a day, he said.

Meanwhile, Kang said a passenger flight carrying South Korean nationals has left Dubai and is scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, following talks with the UAE on measures for their safe return.

Commercial flights from Abu Dhabi are expected to resume Saturday, while a chartered Korean Air flight will also be dispatched, he said, noting that he held talks with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Affairs Authority.

“Currently, 18,000 South Koreans are in 14 Middle East nations, and some 4,900 of them are short-term travelers,” he said. “Among the short-term travelers, 3,500 of them are currently staying in the UAE and Qatar, and waiting to return home.”

“We will continue consultations with the UAE to bring all of our citizens back home as soon as possible.”

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