The South Korean government will hold a nationwide survey on foreign employment later this week as part of its plan to establish a database of its foreign workforce, the state-run census agency said Monday.

The survey on 11,500 selected foreign residents over 15 years old will start on Tuesday and run through May 30, according to Statistics Korea.

It is aimed at helping the government map out comprehensive policies for the foreign workforce based on the collected data on their employment, unemployment and economic participation.

The agency said it will release the survey results in October.

According to separate government data, 1.94 million foreigners reside in South Korea as of end-March this year, up from 490,000 foreign residents in 2000. (Yonhap)