Anxiety about building savings is growing among office workers. Personal-finance videos and online communities repeatedly cite “average assets for people in their 30s,” “saving 100 million won,” and “minimum money before marriage,” treating a certain level of financial assets as a yardstick for stability.
The short answer is no: Not having 100 million won in financial assets in your 30s does not automatically mean it is “too late.” Asset statistics are not the same as an individual bank balance. Official household asset figures are compiled by household, not by person, and they reflect the heavy weight of real estate and the influence of high-asset households.
According to the National Data Center’s “2025 Household Finance and Welfare Survey,” as of the end of March 2025, average assets per household stood at 566.78 million won, up 4.9% from a year earlier. Average debt was 95.34 million won, up 4.4%, and net assets — assets minus debt — rose 5.0% to 471.44 million won. Average household income in 2024 was 74.27 million won, with disposable income at 60.32 million won.
On the surface, household wealth increased. But it is not appropriate to compare the 566.78 million won average directly with an individual’s deposits, stocks or cash-like holdings. As of the end of March 2025, average household financial assets were 136.9 million won, while nonfinancial assets were 429.88 million won — meaning much of household wealth is tied up in real estate and other tangible assets rather than cash.
The survey also highlights the “average trap,” in which high-asset households pull up the mean. The top 10% by net assets accounted for 46.1% of total household assets. The net-asset Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, rose to 0.625 from 0.612 a year earlier. That helps explain why a higher average does not mean conditions improved for all households.
Younger households, in particular, did not share in the gains. The National Data Center said assets increased across all age groups except households headed by someone 39 or younger, where assets fell 0.3% from a year earlier.
Data for households in their 30s show the strain. According to the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), average assets for households headed by someone in their 30s were 359.58 million won, down 0.6% from a year earlier — even as overall average household assets rose 4.9% and assets increased for households headed by those 29 or younger, in their 40s, 50s and 60 or older.
For households in their 30s, income rose but assets fell. KOSIS data showed ordinary income increased 2.6% from a year earlier, but financial assets fell 0.5% and nonfinancial assets fell 0.7%. Savings also declined 1.3% to 69.89 million won. Meanwhile, average debt for households in their 30s rose to 108.98 million won, and net assets fell 1.3% to 250.6 million won.
That trend aligns with what many workers describe as “account anxiety.” Even with higher pay, fixed costs such as housing, loan repayments, wedding expenses and family support can limit the ability to save. Whether someone lives with parents, pays rent or provides living expenses to family can also make saving speeds differ sharply even at the same salary level.
The anxiety is difficult to explain as a matter of spending habits alone. While overall household assets are rising, younger households are building wealth more slowly, and debt burdens for those in their 30s are increasing. The question “Did you save 100 million won in your 30s?” has become a symbol of broader worries tied to marriage, housing and retirement preparation.
In the end, the answer to “Is it too late if you don’t have 100 million won in your 30s?” is “not necessarily.” Average asset figures can make personal finances look stronger than they are. Because the statistics are household-based, heavily shaped by real estate and lifted by high-asset households, they are hard to compare directly with an individual’s financial assets.
The concerns are not baseless: Conditions for young people to build assets remain challenging, and the wealth gap is widening. Still, what matters more than comparing yourself with an average is reviewing your own financial structure — not just how much you earn each month, but how much you can consistently set aside and whether your assets are growing while you manage debt and fixed costs.
For building a lump sum, managing cash flow should come before taking on risky investments. With income growth difficult, practical checks include adjusting housing and fixed expenses, managing debt, automating savings and seeking additional sources of income.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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