More young people move to Seoul

SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - More young people have moved to Seoul from other cities and provinces, an analysis of census data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday reveals.

Since 2019, the number of people in their 20s and 30s moving into Seoul has exceeded those moving out, except in 2021. Following this trend, the number of people leaving Seoul fell to 473,000 in 2024, down from 751,000 in 2001.

Among Seoulites, those relocating within the city declined, while those relocating to the capital from other cities and provinces rose to 35.1 percent in 2024, up from 27.8 percent in 2001.

As of 2024, the majority of people who changed their residence to Seoul came from nearby metropolitan areas, with over half or 53 percent moving from Gyeonggi Province and 7.7 percent from Incheon.

The main reasons for moving to Seoul were jobs, education, and residential environment including convenient access to schools and other living conditions.

Kang Ok-hyun, a city official, said, "Based on the findings, we will develop the city's policies to address changing demographics."