Why did Korea’s population mobility fall in July 2026?

The Ministry of Data and Statistics said the decline apparently came as housing transactions weakened. Home trades in May and June, which are reflected in the July data, fell 0.9 percent on-year.

How many people moved residences in July 2026 and how did that compare with last year?

Around 468,000 people changed residences in July, which was 86,000 fewer than in the same month of 2025. It was the lowest July figure since 460,000 in July 2022.

Which regions saw the biggest net inflows and outflows in July 2026?

Seoul had a net outflow of 6,108 people. Gyeonggi Province had the largest net inflow at 5,106, followed by Incheon with 2,547, while South Gyeongsang Province and Busan also posted net outflows.

Population mobility falls in July amid housing market slowdown

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Summary

The number of Koreans who moved to new residences fell in July amid a decline in housing transactions. Around 468,000 people changed residences, the lowest figure since July 2022, and the population mobility rate dropped to 10.8 percent. The Ministry of Data and Statistics said the decline apparently came as home trades in May and June fell 0.9 percent on-year. Seoul recorded a net outflow of 6,108 people, while Gyeonggi Province and Incheon posted net inflows.

Key Facts

Around 468,000 people changed residences in July, down 86,000 from the same month in 2025.
The population mobility rate fell 2 percentage points on-year to 10.8 percent.
The data ministry linked the decline to a 0.9 percent on-year fall in home trades in May and June, which affected the July figures.
Seoul reported a net outflow of 6,108 people, while Gyeonggi Province posted a net inflow of 5,106 and Incheon a net inflow of 2,547.
South Gyeongsang Province and Busan also had net outflows, at 813 and 661 people respectively.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 26, 2026 12:31 pm KST

A densely populated apartment area in Seoul, Aug. 23 / Yonhap

The number of Koreans who moved to new residences decreased in July from a year earlier amid a decline in housing transactions, data showed Wednesday.

Around 468,000 people changed residences in July, down 86,000 from the same one-month period in 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. It was the lowest figure since 460,000 posted in July 2022.

The population mobility rate — the number of people relocating per 100 residents — fell 2 percentage points from a year earlier to 10.8 percent.

The data ministry said the decline apparently came as the number of homes traded in May and June, which is reflected in the July data, fell 0.9 percent on-year.

"There may also have been a base effect, as housing-related indicators were strong in July last year," a statistics official said.

By region, Seoul reported a net outflow of 6,108 people, while South Gyeongsang Province and the southeastern port city of Busan posted net outflows of 813 and 661 people, respectively.

In contrast, Gyeonggi Province reported a net inflow of 5,106 people, followed by Incheon, west of Seoul, with 2,547.

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