"School and Work Both in Seoul"... 600,000 People in Their 20s Headed to the Capital Area

About 600,000 People Moved to the Seoul Metropolitan Area Over 10 Years
Net Inflow of People in Their 20s Continues in the Metropolitan Area This Year

It has been revealed that 600,000 young people in their 20s have moved from non-metropolitan areas to the metropolitan area over the past 10 years.

According to the National Statistical Portal of Statistics Korea on the 7th, the net migration population of people in their 20s to Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon from 2013 to 2022 was recorded at 591,000. Net migration population is the number of people moving into an area minus those moving out. This means that over the past decade, more than 590,000 people in their 20s have migrated into the metropolitan area.

During the same period, the total net migration population to the metropolitan area was 279,000. For age groups other than those in their 20s, the population moved out from the metropolitan area to non-metropolitan areas.

Over the Past 10 Years, 341,000 People in Their 20s Net Migrated to Seoul

Over the past decade, 341,000 people in their 20s have net migrated to Seoul. The net inflow of people in their 20s to Seoul increased from 21,000 in 2013 to 48,000 in 2019, then decreased to 36,000 in 2021, but rose again to 54,000 last year.
[Photo by Honam Moon munonam@]

In the past 10 years, 341,000 people in their 20s net migrated to Seoul. The net migration of people in their 20s to Seoul increased from 21,000 in 2013 to 48,000 in 2019, then decreased to 36,000 in 2021, but rose again to 54,000 last year. Over the 10 years, 15,000 people in their 20s net migrated to Incheon, and 235,000 to Gyeonggi.

Among non-metropolitan areas, Gyeongnam recorded the highest net outflow of people in their 20s over 10 years, with 105,000 leaving. This was followed by Gyeongbuk (-90,000), Jeonnam (-76,000), Jeonbuk (-76,000), Daegu (-66,000), Busan (-55,000), and Gwangju (-34,000).

Among provinces excluding the metropolitan area, Sejong was the only region to record net inflow, with 34,000 people.

Concentration in the Metropolitan Area Due to Education and Employment

According to a recent report titled "Interregional Population Movement and Regional Economy" published by the Bank of Korea, an analysis of the factors influencing youth migration revealed a correlation with economic factors such as employment rates and economic growth rates. Since 2015, the wage, employment rate, and growth rate gaps between the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas have widened, intensifying the outflow of young people from non-metropolitan regions.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

It is interpreted that young people in their 20s are moving from non-metropolitan areas to the metropolitan area mainly due to employment and education.

According to a recent report by the Bank of Korea titled "Interregional Population Movement and Regional Economy," an analysis of the factors influencing youth migration showed a correlation with economic factors such as employment rate and economic growth rate. Since 2015, the wage, employment rate, and growth rate gaps between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas have widened, intensifying the outflow of young people from non-metropolitan areas.

Additionally, the widening gap in cultural and medical services between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas was cited as a factor for concentration in the metropolitan area, and university enrollment was also mentioned as a background for the migration of people in their 20s.

This year as well, the net inflow of people in their 20s to the metropolitan area continues. Up to the third quarter of this year, 47,000 people in their 20s net migrated to the metropolitan area. Of these, 40,000 moved to Seoul, 5,000 to Gyeonggi, and 2,000 to Incheon.

In non-metropolitan areas, Daejeon (2,000) and Sejong (200) recorded net inflows, while Gyeongnam (-12,000), Gyeongbuk (-7,000), Daegu (-6,000), and Jeonnam (-5,000) showed net outflows.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.