How many people moved residences in South Korea in September, and how did that compare with the previous year?

About 444,000 people changed residences, compared with 494,000 in September a year earlier. It was the lowest September figure since 1973, when 378,000 people moved.

What factors were linked to South Korea’s decline in population mobility in September?

The decrease was in line with declines in housing transactions and the supply of new homes, as well as the country’s aging population. The extended Chuseok holiday also fell in September in 2026, whereas it fell in October in 2025.

Which South Korean regions had net population inflows and outflows in September?

Seoul had a net outflow of 2,359 people, while Jeonnam-Gwangju and Busan recorded net outflows of 531 and 401. Incheon recorded a net inflow of 1,956 people, and South Chungcheong Province had an inflow of 1,032.

Population mobility down 10% in Sept. to lowest level in 53 years

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Summary

Around 444,000 people changed residences in South Korea in September, the lowest September total since 1973, data showed Wednesday. The population mobility rate fell 1.2 percentage points year on year to 10.6 percent. The decline came alongside fewer housing transactions and new homes, an aging population, and an extended Chuseok holiday that fell in September this year. Seoul, Jeonnam-Gwangju and Busan recorded net outflows, while Incheon and South Chungcheong Province had net inflows.

Key Facts

The September total was 50,000 lower than the 494,000 people who moved in the same month a year earlier.
In August, 48,359 houses were traded, down 23.5 percent from July, according to a separate finance ministry report.
Average housing prices rose 0.32 percent month on month in August, while jeonse prices increased 0.35 percent.
Seoul recorded a net outflow of 2,359 people; Jeonnam-Gwangju and Busan recorded net outflows of 531 and 401, respectively.
Incheon had a net inflow of 1,956 people, followed by South Chungcheong Province with 1,032.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 28, 2026 12:36 pm KST

Apartment complexes can be seen from Mount Nam in central Seoul, Oct. 18. Yonhap

The number of Koreans who moved to new residences fell in September from a year earlier following a steady decline in housing transactions, data showed Wednesday.

Around 444,000 people changed residences in September, compared with 494,000 a year earlier, according to the monthly tally from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It was the lowest September figure since 1973, when 378,000 people changed residences.

The population mobility rate — the number of people relocating per 100 residents — fell 1.2 percentage points from a year earlier to 10.6 percent.

The overall decrease came in line with declines in housing transactions and the supply of new homes, along with the country's aging population.

According to a separate monthly report issued by the finance ministry earlier this month, the total number of houses traded in August came to 48,359, down 23.5 percent from a month earlier.

Average housing prices rose 0.32 percent on-month in August, while jeonse prices increased 0.35 percent over the same period.

Under the jeonse system, tenants provide landlords with a large lump-sum deposit, which is returned in full at the end of a lease typically lasting at least two years.

The on-year decrease also came as the extended Chuseok holiday fell in September this year, whereas it fell in October in 2025.

By region, Seoul reported a net outflow of 2,359 people, while the southwestern Jeonnam-Gwangju area and the southeastern port city of Busan recorded net outflows of 531 and 401, respectively.

In contrast, Incheon, west of Seoul, posted a net inflow of 1,956 people, followed by South Chuncheong Province with 1,032.

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