# Global and South Korean wealth inequality trends > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-south-korean-wealth-inequality-trends > Updated: 2026-10-25T22:15:37.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 3. Financial data indicates a widening wealth gap and increasing economic disparities in South Korea. Initial reports highlighted significant wealth inequality among minors, noting that while total savings for minors reached 9.74 trillion won, 77.5% of them held less than 1 million won. This period also saw declining physical banking access in rural areas, with the number of districts where ATM distances exceed 2km rising from 10 to 17. Subsequent data expanded the scope of these disparities to the broader household level. In South Korea, while average net assets rose by 5.0%, the net assets of the bottom 20% of households decreased by 4.9%, with the top 10% now controlling 46.1% of national net assets. This trend is driven by a disparity in savings capacity and rising real estate prices. Similar patterns of wealth concentration and shrinking net worth among lower-income groups were also observed in the United States. Recent findings from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) show that asset inequality has surged, with the total asset gap between the top and bottom quintiles reaching 68.6 times, surpassing the 2022 record. Housing inequality has reached a record high, as the gap in average residential housing prices between the top 20% and bottom 20% of households reached 290.1 times. While the gap in disposable income has shown signs of narrowing, the concentration of approximately 70% of household assets in real estate continues to exacerbate the divide between property owners and non-owners. ## Claims - The average residential housing price gap between the top 20% and bottom 20% of households reached 290.1 times last year. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The homeownership rate for the bottom 20% of households was 6.6%. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The average asset gap between the top 20% and bottom 20% of households was 68.6 times. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The disposable income gap between the top 20% and bottom 20% was 9.8 times. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The average asset of the bottom 20% was 25.88 million won. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The average asset of the top 20% was 1.77615 billion won. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The housing price gap between the top and bottom 20% is at its highest level since 2017. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Approximately 70% of South Korean household assets are concentrated in real estate. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: South Korea asset gap reaches record high as housing inequality widens South Korea's housing price gap between the top and bottom 20% of households hit a record 290-fold increase last year, even as income inequality narrowed. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-asset-gap-reaches-record-high-as-housing-inequality-widens ### 2026-10-09: Global wealth gap widens as low-income households face shrinking net worth Financial reports from South Korea and the US highlight growing wealth inequality, as rising asset prices and high living costs benefit top earners while eroding the net worth of low-income households. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/global-wealth-gap-widens-as-low-income-households-face-shrinking-net-worth ### 2026-10-05: South Korea faces rising financial gaps in minor wealth and rural ATM access South Korea faces growing financial disparities, with minors holding massive wealth gaps and rural residents struggling with declining ATM accessibility in agricultural regions. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korea-faces-rising-financial-gaps-in-minor-wealth-and-rural-atm-access --- Cite as: Global and South Korean wealth inequality trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-and-south-korean-wealth-inequality-trends