Seoul apartments need 46.5 bn won for top‑1% while policy loan rates climb above 5%

Data from real‑estate platform Zigbang shows that to belong to the top 1% of Seoul apartment transactions a buyer now needs about 46.5 billion won, a slight decline from the previous year's peak of 49.8 billion won. Prices for comparable top‑1% units in other regions range from roughly 5 billion won in Gangwon and Gyeongbuk to 18 billion won in Gyeonggi, reflecting a nine‑fold gap between the capital and provincial markets. The government is considering stricter taxes on ultra‑high‑price homes, prompting close scrutiny of the new price threshold.

Meanwhile, the government's Bogeumjari housing loan, a key policy mortgage, has seen its interest rate exceed 5% across all ten‑year‑plus maturities, surpassing rates offered by commercial banks by up to four times. The rise follows the central bank’s policy‑rate hikes and is tied to the loan’s funding through mortgage‑backed securities. Experts warn that the higher cost erodes the loan’s affordability advantage for low‑income homebuyers, calling for measures to restore its supportive role.