Number of Korean residents in Japan inches down

TOKYO, June 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of Korean residents in Japan fell slightly last year as foreign residents left the neighboring country amid its economic downturn, data showed Tuesday.
During the reported year, the number of Korean residents in the country decreased 2.16 percent from a year ago to 565,989, according to the data by the Ministry of Justice.
Out of the total foreigners living in Japan, Koreans made up 26.5 percent after Chinese with 32.2 percent, the data said. Brazilians and Filipinos ranked third and fourth with 10.8 percent and 9.8 percent, respectively.
The overall population of foreigners fell 2.4 percent from a year ago to 2.13 million in 2010, or 1.67 percent of Japan's population, from 2.18 million in 2009, when it marked the first drop since the record high of 2.21 million the previous year.
The exodus of foreigners from Japan may be interpreted as the result of job losses related to the overseas transfer of Japanese companies' production units. The devastating earthquake in March is also expected to accelerate foreigners' exit from the country.
janeunhye@yna.co.kr