The threshold for the top 1% of real estate asset holders jumped 400 million won in just one year to reach 3.4 billion won ($2.5 billion). The surge reflects a sharp rebound in Seoul apartment prices, particularly in the Gangnam area. Meanwhile, assets held by middle-income households and those in non-capital regions decreased, widening the real estate wealth gap further.
An analysis of microdata from the National Data Center's Household Finance and Welfare Survey by The Seoul Economic Daily found that the top 1% real estate threshold (based on actual transaction prices) reached 3.4 billion won last year, up 400 million won from the previous year. This benchmark increased by approximately 540 million won over five years from 2019 to 2024, but last year's single-year jump nearly matched that entire five-year gain. The spike is attributed to soaring property prices in the capital region, with apartments in Seoul's already expensive Gangnam and Han River belt areas posting even larger gains.
Similar trends emerged among the top 10% of real estate asset holders. The top 5% threshold rose 100 million won from 1.41 billion won to 1.51 billion won, while the top 10% threshold increased 40 million won to 990 million won.
In contrast, median household real estate assets fell to 170 million won last year from 180 million won the previous year, a decline of 10 million won. The wealth gap between top asset holders and middle-income households has widened further.
