One out of every four Southeast Asians living in Seoul has experienced discrimination , according to survey results released Tuesday . The poll of 333 expatriates living in Seoul , conducted by the Seoul Development Institute , found that Asians experience more discrimination than foreigners from OECD countries , which also include Japan . According to the poll , 25 . 9 percent of those from Southeast Asian countries answered “ yes ” when asked if they “ have ever experienced discrimination in Seoul . ” A high percentage of expats from Northeast Asian countries answered the same way , at 20 . 5 . The disparity becomes more apparent when compared to foreigners from OECD countries , of which only 8 . 2 percent answered yes to the same question . According to Hong Suk - ki , research fellow at the Seoul Development Institute , much of the discrimination comes from Koreans ’ perception of economic differences among the countries over the past several decades . In the past , many of the OECD countries were more economically developed in comparison to Korea , so Seoul residents often looked at foreigners of those countries with a “ starry gaze , ” according to Hong . “ However , foreigners from lesser - developed Southeast Asian countries were seen as ‘ freeloaders , ’” Hong said . The poll also found that discrimination was highest in the area of employment , with discrimination in public administrative services and housing following close behind . Across the board , many foreigners in the poll felt discrimination in the financial sector . Hong said the process for opening up accounts at banks here is tremendously complicated for foreigners , questioning the “ global ” aspect of global banks when they cannot offer a global service . Southeast Asians felt discrimination in the health care sector as well , the poll found , with many unable to communicate in Korean or English , usually the only other language option available . When Koreans think of foreigners , many assume that they can speak English , said Hong , when in actuality only a small fraction of the expat population speaks English . “ People should see others equally , regardless of where they are from , what their skin color is or what their religion is , but we Koreans lack experience in that , ” said Hong . According to government data from 2009 , of the 255 , 749 registered foreigners in Seoul , more than 200 , 000 are from China , Japan , and Taiwan . By Robert Lee ( rjmlee @ heraldm . com )