Among newlywed couples living in Seoul who own a home, 3 out of 10 have a total publicly announced housing price exceeding 600 million won, data showed.

While the number of newlywed homeowners in Seoul has significantly decreased, the number of couples holding high-value housing assets has increased, making the polarization of residential assets more pronounced.

According to statistics on the number of newlywed couples by housing asset value among newlywed couples in their first five years of marriage released by the National Data Agency, out of 48,989 newlywed homeowners residing in Seoul as of 2024, 15,368 couples—accounting for 31.4% of the total—held housing assets with a total publicly announced price exceeding 600 million won.

Of these Seoul newlywed homeowners, 85.6% (41,926 couples) owned a single home, meaning in many cases the price of the single home itself exceeded 600 million won.

Those with homes valued at more than 300 million won to 600 million won or less accounted for the largest share at 38.5% (18,861 couples), while those with 300 million won or less stood at 30.1% (14,761 couples).

The statistics are compiled based on the couples' place of residence, and housing includes apartments, detached houses, row houses, and multi-household houses.

When retrocalculating the benchmark 600 million won publicly announced price by applying the apartment realization rate of 69% from that period, it roughly translates to housing assets in the late 800 million won range in terms of market value.

The proportion of holding housing assets exceeding 600 million won was uniquely high in Seoul.

In 2024, the proportion of newlywed homeowners nationwide holding housing assets exceeding 600 million won stood at a mere 9.3%.

Except for Seoul and Sejong (10.9%), the remaining 15 cities and provinces all remained in the single digits.

The changes are stark compared to 9 years ago.

The proportion of newlywed couples residing in Seoul holding housing assets exceeding 600 million won surged 5.3-fold from 5.9% in 2015, when statistics began to be compiled.

After climbing to 40.6% in 2021 and dropping to 27.0% in 2022, the figure rose again for two consecutive years to 27.8% in 2023 and 31.4% in 2024.

The upward trend in Seoul home prices at the time appears to have had an impact.

In fact, while the overall size of newlywed homeowners in Seoul decreased due to population decline and late marriages, the number of couples possessing housing assets with a publicly announced price exceeding 600 million won increased.

While the total number of newlywed homeowners residing in Seoul dropped by 44.6% from 88,500 couples in 2015 to 48,989 couples in 2024, couples owning housing assets with a publicly announced price exceeding 600 million won surged about threefold over the same period, from 5,254 couples.

Conversely, couples owning homes with a publicly announced price of 300 million won or less plummeted by 76.7% from 63,290 couples.

Amid tightening residential conditions, the number of newlywed couples residing in Seoul is also on a downward trend.

As of 2024, out of 756,358 newlywed couples nationwide, those living in Seoul accounted for 19.0% with 143,820 couples.

Narrowing it down to newlywed homeowners (323,105 couples), Seoul's share was 15.2% (48,989 couples).

Both figures mark the lowest levels since statistics were first compiled in 2015.


(Photo: Yonhap News)