# Rising debt levels in South Korea

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rising-debt-levels-in-south-korea
> Updated: 2026-09-30T00:40:14.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Data indicates rising debt levels across different demographics in South Korea. For newlywed couples, the median loan balance increased by 130.1% between 2016 and 2024, reaching 179 million won. This trend includes a rise in high-value loans, with the proportion of newlyweds owing more than 300 million won growing from 5.3% to 24.0% during that period.

Simultaneously, student living expense loans provided by the Korea Student Aid Foundation reached 850.6 billion won in 2025, a 32.8% increase since 2023. This rise in student borrowing has been accompanied by a 31.1% increase in loan delinquency balances over the same two-year period.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-30: South Korean student living expense loans reach 850.6 billion won

South Korean student living expense loans rose to 850.6 billion won in 2025, a 32.8% increase in two years, while loan delinquencies also climbed by 31.1%.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-student-living-expense-loans-reach-8506-billion-won

### 2026-09-27: South Korean newlyweds' median debt rises 130% in eight years

The median debt for newlywed couples in South Korea has surged 130% over eight years, reaching 179 million won in 2024, with a notable rise in high-value loans exceeding 300 million won.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-korean-newlyweds-median-debt-rises-130-in-eight-years

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Cite as: Rising debt levels in South Korea. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rising-debt-levels-in-south-korea