By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
The average household income of Seoulites was 3,205,000 won a month, of which 2,591,000 won was spent, a research said Wednesday.
The monthly income increased by 2.8 percent compared to the previous year and the total outlay also increased by 2.3 percent, said the study on Seoul citizens’ life in the financial, social, cultural and educational sectors. The research was conducted by the Seoul metropolitan government.
The expenses on grocery, lodging, transportation and communication accounted for 85 percent, or 2,200,000 won, according to the study.
The gross product by Seoulites constituted 22.8 percent in the gross national product (GNP) as of the end of 2005 with per capita GNP of $18,304.
The employment rate was in stable condition with the unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. About 4,900,000 people had a job, but the unemployed aged 30 or under reached to 1,060,000, which increased by 30 percent compared to a year ago.
Meanwhile, 203 new couples got married and 258 babies were born every day.
There were also some sectors that showed a sharp decrease.
One hundred thirty-two cars were registered every day last year, almost one-third of the number in 1996, which recorded 342. The issuance of driver’s licenses dropped 205 from 915 in 1996.
What was reversed in the past 10 years was the number of passengers on the subway and buses.
In 1996, the total number of passengers using the subway stood at 4,410,000, while bus-takers were 4,840,000. But in 2006, 6,220,000 people used the subway and 4,660,000 took buses.