MZ Generation Flocks to Seoul Despite High Living Costs, Data Shows

South Korea's MZ generation (ages 20-39) has been leaving non-metropolitan areas in droves over the past eight years spanning the COVID-19 pandemic, new data analysis shows.

While population outflows were pronounced outside the Seoul metropolitan area, preferences within the capital region shifted toward Seoul proper, with notable migration to Incheon as well.

According to an analysis by Leaders Index based on National Data Agency figures comparing MZ generation population movements between the four years before the pandemic (2018-2021) and the four years after (October 2022-2025), only six metropolitan areas recorded net inflows of MZ residents over the recent four-year period: Gyeonggi, Seoul, Incheon, Sejong, South Chungcheong, and Daejeon.

While Seoul and Gyeonggi continued to attract MZ residents before the pandemic, their trajectories diverged afterward. Gyeonggi's net MZ inflow plunged from over 300,000 to around 100,000, while Seoul's surged more than 200 percent—from approximately 25,000 to 77,000.

Seoul's overall population declined, but its MZ population grew, a distinctive pattern attributed to access to jobs, education, and cultural infrastructure outweighing concerns about housing and living costs in attracting younger residents.

Incheon showed the most dramatic transformation. After a net outflow of 547 MZ residents in the four years before the pandemic, the city recorded a net inflow of 46,245 over the following four years—a surge exceeding 8,500 percent.

"This appears to be the combined result of Seoul accessibility, new housing supply, and relatively lower housing costs," Leaders Index said.

Sejong, South Chungcheong, and Daejeon also flipped from net MZ outflow regions before the pandemic to net inflow areas afterward. Daejeon notably saw its total population decline while its MZ population grew. New town development centered on Yuseong District and improved living conditions are credited with attracting younger residents.

In contrast, numerous metropolitan areas including South Gyeongsang, North Gyeongsang, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, South Jeolla, North Jeolla, Ulsan, and Gangwon continued to experience net MZ outflows both before and after the pandemic.

The Gyeongsang region showed the most pronounced exodus. South Gyeongsang recorded the largest outflow, losing more than 50,000 MZ residents in both periods, followed by North Gyeongsang and Busan.

Jeju represents the most dramatic reversal. After a net inflow of 4,150 MZ residents in the four years before the pandemic, the island saw a net outflow of 6,018 afterward—the largest decline rate nationwide at negative 249 percent.