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[Anchor]

We have reporter Han Jiyeon with us for "Friendly Economy" on this Wednesday. Han, you have news today (the 2nd) that home prices have risen significantly.

[Reporter]

The number of areas where the highest transaction price for exclusive 84 square meters has surpassed 2 billion won is spreading even to the outer skirts of Seoul.

A total of 21 regions have been confirmed in the capital area alone.

In the past, when people said "2 billion won for a standard unit," it typically referred to Banpo or areas along the Han River.

Standard units—meaning exclusive 84 square meters, commonly referred to as the 34-pyeong type—are seeing this 2.0 billion won threshold spread to the outer parts of Seoul.

According to actual transaction prices from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of places in the capital area where standard units surpassed 2 billion won this year increased by 5 compared to last year, bringing the total to 21 regions.

Seongbuk-gu, Dongdaemun-gu, Dongtan in Hwaseong, Yeongtong-gu in Suwon, and Sujeong-gu in Seongnam have newly added their names to the list.

A representative example is Seongbuk-gu.

An 84-square-meter apartment in Gireum-dong was sold for 2 billion won last July.

This is a surge of more than 300 million won compared to the highest price for the same area in Seongbuk-gu last year.

In Gyeonggi Province, an exclusive 84-square-meter unit in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, was traded at 2.1 billion won, marking the first time a standard unit exceeded 2 billion won in Suwon as well.

Transactions are also concentrating toward the outer areas.

Based on figures reported at the time, apartment transactions in Seoul rose by 8.2% in July compared to a month earlier, with Jungrang-gu seeing the largest increase.

It jumped by 137%, from 211 cases in June to 501 cases in July.

Conversely, the atmosphere in the Gangnam area is completely opposite.

Transactions actually decreased in Seocho and Gangnam districts, while listings in Gangnam-gu increased by 15.7% from the 3rd to the end of last month.

The analysis suggests that as home prices and jeonse (lump-sum housing deposit) prices surge together, anxiety among prospective homebuyers in their 30s and 40s—fearing that "it might become even harder to buy if not now"—is spreading.

[Anchor]

Talks about increasing jeonse and monthly rent burdens also continue to emerge.

[Reporter]

Looking at average Seoul apartment lease prices, both jeonse prices in August and monthly rent in July broke record highs side by side.

Both jeonse and monthly rent pose heavy burdens.

According to KB Real Estate, the average jeonse price for Seoul apartments surpassed 700 million won for the first time in July, and rose by another 7.2 million won just a month later.

Compared to January of this year, when it was just under 670 million won, this is a 6.3% increase.

The growth rate of the jeonse price index compared to last December exceeded 9% in the 14 districts of Gangbuk, higher than the 6.14% in the 11 districts of Gangnam.

The situation is no different even if one gives up jeonse and opts for monthly rent.

According to the Korea Real Estate Board, the average monthly rent for Seoul apartments in July stood at 1.62 million won, surpassing 1.6 million won for the first time since statistics began.

This comes about half a year after crossing 1.4 million won in April of last year and 1.5 million won in January of this year.

The proportion of monthly rent in the lease market is growing even larger.

From the beginning of this year through July, the proportion of monthly rent among all lease transactions reached 68.3%, and 69.7% in Seoul, meaning nearly 7 out of 10 lease contracts are monthly rent.

One reason for this is the decrease in the supply of new apartments.

Newly built apartments in Seoul this year have dropped to about half the level of last year, acting as a factor reducing newly available jeonse supplies.

On top of this, with the benchmark interest rate rising to 3%, the interest burden on jeonse loans has also grown.

With tenants facing either having to come up with a large lump sum of over 700 million won for jeonse or shelling out 1.62 million won every month for rent, voices are growing that whichever option tenants choose, the burden is heavy.

[Anchor]

The last topic is about providing 1 million won to newlywed couples; this isn't entirely brand new news released yesterday, but rather something that was previously announced.

[Reporter]

It was previously announced, but it is included in next year's budget bill approved by the government yesterday.

It contains details that a total of 1 million won will be paid to couples who file their marriage registration.

This is a newly established marriage support subsidy system.

If you register your marriage after January 1st of next year, the husband and wife will each receive 500,000 won, totaling 1 million won in cash for the couple.

Unlike existing tax credits, it can be received even if there is no income or tax to pay.

There is also no age limit.

The subsidy can only be received once in a lifetime.

Not only first-time marriages, but also remarried couples will be eligible as long as they meet the marriage registration requirements.

The government has allocated 166.3 billion won for this project.

However, even if finalized after deliberation by the National Assembly, actual payments are scheduled to begin in the second half of next year.

While the rule is to apply within one year of marriage registration, an exception is planned to be made allowing recipients in the first year to apply until the end of 2028.