140,000 people moved out of Seoul, the highest number since 178,000 in 1997. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEJONG, Feb. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – Residents of Seoul moved out of the capital city last year in the largest number in 19 years, national statistics showed Thursday, apparently driven out by costly housing and lack of jobs.
The yearly tally released by Statistics Korea showed 140,000 people moved out of Seoul, the highest number since 178,000 in 1997. By comparison, the southeastern port city of Busan, the country’s second-largest city, lost 21,000 people while Daejeon, another major city in the central part of the country, lost 11,000 residents.
Gyeonggi, a province neighboring Seoul, gained 134,000 residents. Sejong, which hosts many of the economy-related ministries and government agencies, added 30,000 people to its population.
The exodus out of Seoul sped up throughout last year, statistics indicated. In the first quarter, 23,885 people left the capital. The number increased to 34,680 in the second quarter, 38,426 in the third quarter and to 43,266 in the fourth quarter.
“Such increase shows a trend in which people burdened by expensive housing costs relocate to other cities with relatively better economies to look for better jobs,” an official at Statistics Korea said.
Real estate industry records put average home rental fees in Seoul at slightly over 400 million won (US$350,416) in 2015, more than double the 165.86 million won back in 2005.
(Yonhap)
