IIUD Issue Brief No. 2 examines the housing experiences of foreign professionals in Seoul and how these shape their willingness to settle long-term. In May 2024, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced its Foreign Residents Policy Master Plan (2024–2028) to become a city where global talent thrives.

While the plan emphasizes jobs, education, and entrepreneurship, this brief raises a key question: Is housing being overlooked in efforts to make Seoul livable for global talent? Based on interviews with professionals from the U.S., Nepal, the Netherlands, and Japan, the issue brief reveals the structural housing challenges they face—and what these mean for Seoul’s competitiveness as a global city.

[Download the Issue Brief No.2 (Korean)]

• IIUD "Their voices" Series

  This issue brief is part of IIUD's 'Their voices' series, which highlights first-hand experiences of various population groups, such as migrants, urban poor, informal workers and homeless people, as well as urban actors, such as grassroot organizations, activists, and local public officers. The series complements policy analysis by amplifying the perspectives of those directly affected by institutional structures and everyday challenges.