Net Inflow of Young People into the Metropolitan Area Continues for 20 Years
Middle-Aged Group Maintains Net Outflow from the Metropolitan Area
Last year, there was a net inflow of 61,000 young people into the Seoul metropolitan area. In contrast, there was a net outflow of 18,000 people in the middle-aged and older demographic. Among young people, a high proportion moved to the metropolitan area for reasons such as employment and education.
On September 17, Statistics Korea released a report titled "Population Movement in the Seoul Metropolitan Area Over the Past 20 Years," which separates data for the youth demographic (ages 19 to 34) and the middle-aged demographic (ages 40 to 64).
Last year, the net migration to the metropolitan area (total arrivals minus total departures) was 45,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous year. Population movement in the metropolitan area showed a net outflow from 2013 (-4,000) to 2016 (-1,000), but switched to a net inflow in 2017 (16,000) and has continued since then.
Last year, the total number of people who moved nationwide was 6,283,000. Of these, 2,927,000 moved within the metropolitan area. The number of people who moved from non-metropolitan areas to the metropolitan area was 418,000, accounting for 6.7% of all new arrivals in the metropolitan area. Meanwhile, 373,000 people moved from the metropolitan area to non-metropolitan regions, making up 5.9%.
The net inflow of young people into the metropolitan area was 61,000, a decrease of 2,000. The net inflow rate was 1.1%. The net inflow of young people has continued for 20 years since 2004. However, for those in their 30s, there was a net outflow from 2008, but since 2018, the trend has reversed to a net inflow.
The net outflow of the middle-aged demographic from the metropolitan area was 18,000, a decrease of 1,000. The net outflow rate was 0.2%. The middle-aged demographic has seen a net outflow since 2007. A Statistics Korea official explained, "Since 2008, public institutions have been relocated to regional areas, and the outflow was relatively large during the period of concentrated relocations from 2013 to 2015."
The main reasons for moving within the metropolitan area were housing (39.5%), family (24.3%), and employment (17.8%). The proportion of moves for housing reasons has gradually decreased, while the share of moves for family and employment reasons has been increasing. In particular, among young people, Seoul has seen a net outflow, while Gyeonggi Province and Incheon have seen a net inflow.
The main reasons for moving from non-metropolitan areas to the metropolitan area were employment (43.2%), family (24.0%), and education (12.4%). Unlike the decreasing share of housing-related moves, the proportion of moves for educational reasons has been increasing.
Looking at net migration by age among individuals moving alone within the metropolitan area, there was a net inflow of 62,000 young people. Over the past 20 years, the youth demographic has consistently shown a net inflow. The main reasons cited for this inflow were employment and education.
In contrast, the middle-aged demographic has experienced a continuous net outflow for 20 years. Last year, there was a net outflow of 13,000. The main reasons for this outflow were employment and natural environment.
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