Young Koreans Move to Capital After Marriage, But Non-Capital Areas See More Births and Homeownership

A recent analysis of South Korean population data reveals a trend of increased concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area among young people after marriage. The study, based on population dynamics panel statistics, examined the residential moves, employment, childbirth, and homeownership changes of young adults who entered their first marriage between 1984 and 1991.

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The concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area has somewhat intensified as young people move to new homes after marriage.

Analysis showed that the proportion of young people residing in the Seoul metropolitan area rose to 56.6% after marriage, a slight increase from 55.9% before marriage. Of those who moved after marriage, 61.6% relocated to the capital region, with 54.9% moving within the region and 6.7% newly migrating from non-metropolitan areas. Conversely, only 5.5% of those moving out of the Seoul metropolitan area were from non-metropolitan areas.

The data also highlighted significant gender disparities in employment post-marriage. While the proportion of male permanent workers slightly increased after marriage, the rate for women dropped sharply by 14.3 percentage points, with their non-employment rate rising by 12.5 percentage points. This trend was particularly pronounced for women moving from the Seoul metropolitan area to non-metropolitan regions, where their permanent employment rate fell by 27.1 percentage points.

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In the case of the Chungcheong region, Sejong City is included, and areas like Cheonan and Asan, where many companies are located, are adjacent to Gyeonggi Province, leading to significant migration.

Interestingly, young adults who settled in non-metropolitan areas after marriage demonstrated higher rates of childbirth and homeownership. The cumulative childbirth rate within three years of marriage was higher for those who remained in non-metropolitan areas (73.2%) compared to those who stayed in the Seoul metropolitan area (65.3%). Similarly, homeownership rates were higher among non-metropolitan residents (37.5%) than in the capital region (30.3%).

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It can be interpreted that when one spouse has to move after marriage, women tend to follow their husband's workplace.

Officials suggest that the lower housing prices in non-metropolitan areas might provide young couples with the financial means to purchase homes, which could then positively influence their decisions regarding childbirth. This finding offers a counter-narrative to the general trend of 수도권 (capital region) concentration.

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We understand this as a phenomenon where lower housing prices in provincial areas provide the opportunity to purchase a home, which then leads to childbirth.