Seoul posts net outflow while Gyeonggi Province, South Chungcheong and Incheon record net inflows

A contraction in housing supply pushed the number of domestic relocations last month to the lowest level in 52 years, data showed.

According to domestic migration statistics for May 2026 released by the Ministry of Statistics on Wednesday, 466,000 people moved across township, township-level county or neighborhood boundaries based on change-of-address filings during the month.

Apartment buildings are densely packed across central Seoul as seen from Namsan. [Yonhap]
Apartment buildings are densely packed across central Seoul as seen from Namsan. [Yonhap]

The figure is down 7,000, or 1.5 percent, from the same month last year and is the lowest for any May since 1974.

The migration rate — the number of movers per 100 people — fell 0.2 percentage points year-on-year to 10.8 percent, the lowest May reading since the statistics were first compiled in 2000.

The domestic migration statistics track address changes that cross township, township-level county or neighborhood boundaries based on change-of-address filings, and tend to show high volatility depending on seasonal factors and housing market conditions.

The Ministry of Statistics attributed the decline primarily to a drop in newly completed housing units. Home sales transactions in March and April this year rose 6.8 percent, or about 9,000 transactions, from the same period last year, but completed housing units fell 41.5 percent, or about 24,000 units, over the same period, limiting actual demand for relocation.

Of last month's movers, 65.0 percent relocated within the same metropolitan city or province, while 35.0 percent moved across provincial boundaries. Compared with the same period a year earlier, intra-provincial moves fell 3.6 percent while inter-provincial moves rose 2.7 percent.

By region, seven cities and provinces recorded net inflows, with more people moving in than out — led by Gyeonggi Province (2,433), South Chungcheong Province (1,284) and Incheon (1,237).

Ten cities and provinces posted net outflows, including Seoul (minus 4,221), North Gyeongsang Province (minus 663) and Ulsan (minus 646).


y2k@heraldcorp.com