South Korea granted refugee status to a record 94 foreigners last year, the immigration office said Thursday.

According to the Korea Immigration Service under the control of the Ministry of Justice, 2,896 foreigners sought asylum in the country in 2014 and 94 of them were accepted.

The number of people who won refugee status in South Korea was 47 in 2010, 42 in 2011, 60 in 2012 and 57 in 2013.

In addition, the government allowed 539 people, mostly Syrians who entered the country to escape from a civil war in their home country, to legally stay in the country even though they were not granted refugee status. The figure is a huge increase from six in 2013.

Including those formally recognized as refugees and granted rights to legally stay in the country on humanitarian grounds, the number of asylum seekers practically accepted in the country in 2014 comes to 633.

The number of asylum seekers in South Korea has been increasing drastically since the country legislated a law on refugees in 2013.

The figure stood at only 423 in 2010 but jumped to 1,011 in 2011 and has since been on a steady increase from 1,143 in 2012, to 1,574 in 2013 and 2,896 in 2014.

In South Korea, foreigners with refugee status are eligible for social welfare benefits on a level equal to Korean nationals.

The government additionally provides financial support to those who have requested refugee status but are awaiting final approval to help cover their living costs for up to six months. (Yonhap)