Korea’s housing ladder gets steeper

What happened: The gap in owner-occupied housing wealth between Korea's richest and poorest 20 percent of households reached 290-fold in 2025, the widest since records began in 2017. Key numbers: Ratio rose from 244.9 a year earlier. Wealthiest 20 percent averaged 693.4 million won ($525,000), up 7.7 percent. Why it matters: Professors cited Seoul property prices and Seoul versus provincial disparities as drivers. Kim urged prioritizing 100,000 homes available next year over the 1.35 million target by 2030, and Yoo warned the gap will widen further if current policies remain.

The gap in owner-occupied housing wealth between Korea's richest and poorest 20 percent of households reached 290-fold in 2025, the widest since records began in 2017.

Professors cited Seoul property prices and Seoul versus provincial disparities as drivers. Kim urged prioritizing 100,000 homes available next year over the 1.35 million target by 2030, and Yoo warned the gap will widen further if current policies remain.