AJP Factbox: Poor Koreans rely on borrowing for living costs

Living expenses accounted for 45.3 percent of credit loan purposes among South Korean households in the lowest asset quintile in 2025, the highest level since related data began in 2017.

The share declined steadily as household assets increased, falling to 15.1 percent among the wealthiest 20 percent. The figures highlight a clear divide in borrowing purposes, with lower-asset households relying more heavily on credit loans for day-to-day expenses.

For the full story on household credit use and borrowing patterns by asset level, read our full report.

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