"Koreans" are defined as the people who live on the Korean Peninsula and the eastern part of Manchuria who form a common cultural group and use the Korean language. The Korean people are Orientals by race and the Korean language is classified as an Altaic language.

The Korean people originated from the Manchurian Tungus stock of ancient Asia. They moved to the east from the main Chinese continent in the Neolithic period and settled in the hilly areas of the Korean Peninsula and in the region east of the Amur River. The Korean people were referred to as "Dong-i" in Chinese literature. They were totem worshippers who regarded the bears as their guardian god. At first, they mainly hunted and farmed, but gradually settled as farmers. The most ancient nation of the Korean people was Gojoseon founded by Dangun in 2,333 B.C.

With the recent spike in the number of foreign immigrants to Korea, the concept of "homogenous people" is changing to imply a more open society, rather than the exclusive one of the past. Regardless of skin color and ethnic origin, people of Korea are forming one community and coming together as one people.

Immigrants are largely divided into two groups - foreign spouses and migrant workers. Both groups have come to Korea in pursuit of the "Korean Dream." They have solved labor shortages and formed families to become an integral part of the Korean society. According to the National Statistical Office tally, 39,700 international marriages took place in 2006, accounting for 11.9% of all the marriages in Korea.