Korea’s homeless population falls 15%, but ages and clusters in Seoul area

Residents of "jjokbang" — tiny, low-cost rooms representing some of Korea's most inexpensive housing — sit on a street to cool down, June 18, 2024. Korea Times photo by Kwon Jeong-hyun

The number of homeless individuals in Korea has declined by more than 15 percent over the past three years, but the population has grown older and become increasingly concentrated in the greater Seoul area, according to a government survey released Tuesday.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s 2024 report found that 1,349 people were living on the streets nationwide last year, down 15.4 percent from 1,595 in 2021.

The population of individuals experiencing homelessness and precarious housing situations has seen an 11.6 percent decline over the past three years, now standing at 12,725. This total encompasses 6,659 individuals housed in shelters and various care facilities, alongside 4,717 residents of "jjokbang," a category of small, low-cost rooms. Data further reveals a pronounced gender disparity, with men accounting for 77.6 percent of this vulnerable population.

Despite the overall decline, the survey revealed a growing concentration of homeless individuals in urban areas.

About three out of four homeless individuals — 75.7 percent — were found in the Seoul metropolitan area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.

This is up 1.2 percentage points from the previous 2021 survey. Over half — 55 percent — of homeless people living on the streets were concentrated in Seoul.

The homeless population is also aging rapidly.

Among those staying in homeless shelters, 36.8 percent were 65 or older, up 4.1 percentage points since 2021. Nearly half — 46.6 percent — of residents in care facilities were elderly, while seniors made up 40.8 percent of those living in jjokbang.

The top reason for homelessness was unemployment at 35.8 percent, followed by divorce or family breakdown at 12.6 percent and business failure at 11.2 percent. The rate of homelessness due to family issues went up by 3.7 percentage points from the last survey.

About 36.9 percent of respondents said they planned to sleep outdoors on the streets or in squares that night. The main reason for avoiding shelters was “discomfort with communal living and rules” at 36.8 percent.

Their average duration of homelessness was 51.4 months.

The unemployment rate of homeless people also remained high at 75.3 percent. Their main sources of income were public subsidies (47.8 percent) and government-led self-support projects (37.6 percent.)

Alcohol use was reported by 25.8 percent of respondents, but problem drinking linked to alcohol dependence was found with 23.7 percent of the respondents, down 7.9 percentage points from 2021.

Free meals (23.8 percent) and basic living allowances (16.6 percent) were cited as the most helpful social services. The most needed support was income assistance, with 41.7 percent of respondents calling for more help.

The ministry plans to use the findings to develop its third comprehensive plan for homeless welfare and self-reliance support for 2026-2030.