South Korean Youth Migration to Seoul Reduces Class‑Mobility Gains

The OECD report on South Korea’s labour market finds that young adults moving from regional areas such as Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province to the Seoul metropolitan area earn higher absolute incomes than peers who stay, but the likelihood of surpassing their parents’ economic status is declining. The study shows that the proportion of youth among net out‑migrants to the capital rose from 65.7 % in 2005 to a projected 83.4 % in 2025, with more than 90 % of all out‑migrants being aged 20‑39. High housing costs in Seoul are identified as a major barrier; the share of median‑income households able to afford a home in the city fell from 32 % in 2012 to 7 % last year. The OECD attributes reduced upward‑mobility to the need for parental financial support, noting that “migration to the capital no longer guarantees stable class advancement.” It recommends expanding quality jobs, education, transport and digital infrastructure in non‑metropolitan regions to ease the concentration of opportunities in Seoul.