In 2024, Seoul had the highest population density of all provinces in South Korea, with about ****** people per square kilometer. The port city of Busan, which lies 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, followed with about ***** residents per square kilometer. With 90 people per square kilometer, Gangwon was the province with the lowest population density. Population of Seoul The capital of South Korea, Seoul, is the country's largest city with a population of nearly 9.5 million people, meaning that about 20 percent of South Korea's total population live in Seoul. Together with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Incheon Metropolitan Area, the greater Seoul region (or Seoul Capital Area) is home to half of the total population of South Korea. This region also forms one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Solving the problem of overpopulation in Seoul One of the major problems stemming from overpopulation in Seoul is the housing shortage, leading to a significant surge in real estate prices. Over the past few years, several efforts have been made to curb the excessive population concentration and to solve the associated economic and social problems. In 2007, for example, former President Roh Moo-hyun attempted to move the country's administrative capital to Sejong, which is located 120 kilometers south of Seoul. Although the grand plan did not fully work out, around 40 central administrative agencies have since been moved from Seoul to Sejong, turning the city into the de facto administrative capital of South Korea.
In 2023, the population density in South Korea stood at around 515 inhabitants per square kilometer, slightly up from 514 in the previous year. The nationwide population density has been increasing steadily over the past decades. The highest density was in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, with 15,533 people per square kilometer. UrbanizationSouth Korea was primarily an agricultural nation. In the decades following its independence from Japanese rule in 1945, both the dictatorships and democratic governments that governed South Korea focused on industrializing and modernizing the country. The urban population has grown by about four million over the past 20 years, while the rural population has fallen by around one million. In 2023, around 81 percent of the population lived in an urban area. The most populous city SeoulSeoul’s high population density is not surprising. The capital city is typically grouped with the province of Gyeonggi, which resembles a donut with Seoul at its center, and the metropolitan port city of Incheon, collectively known as the Seoul Capital Area. This is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of South Korea. With more than nine million residents, half of South Korea’s population lives in this area.
In 2023, Songpa-gu had the largest population among the 25 districts in Seoul, South Korea, with around 630.7 thousand inhabitants. That year, the total population of Seoul stood at about 9.4 million.
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Chart and table of population level and growth rate for the Seoul, South Korea metro area from 1950 to 2025.
In 2023, the population density in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, reached around 15,506 inhabitants per square kilometer. In 2015, the population density peaked at about 16,364 inhabitants per square kilometer and started to gradually decrease in the following years.
In 2024, Seoul's population amounted to around 9.3 million, a decline from approximately 9.4 million residents in the previous year. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is one of the cities with the highest population densities in the world.
19.8 (%) in 2013.
In 2024, the population of Gyeonggi Province in South Korea stood at around **** million. Seoul followed with about *** million inhabitants. The total population of South Korea stood at around **** million that year.
16,188.9 (persons per sq. km) in 2010.
In 2021, there were approximately 2.56 doctors for every 1,000 inhabitants in South Korea. This was a slight increase compared to the preceding year. This ratio has increased steadily since 2000, with the exception of a slight drop in 2004. However, South Korea still has few doctors relative to its population. The OECD average was 3.3 doctors per 1,000 people, and among the full OECD member countries, only Mexico and Turkey had lower ratios. According to OECD data, key partners China, Brazil, India, South Africa, and Indonesia have ratios lower than Korea. At the other end of the spectrum is Austria with 5.48 doctors per 1,000 people, followed by Norway with 5.16 and Germany with 4.53. Shortage of medical staffs The Korean government officially declared a shortage of several thousand doctors across the nation and recommended the training of an additional 150 doctors every year to make up the shortfall. Furthermore, doctors of traditional Korean medicine are counted among the number of doctors, meaning there are even fewer doctors of modern medical sciences than official figures suggest. Yet there are several factors, such as resistance from doctors, preventing the government from simply increasing the number of medical graduates. Regional imbalances in the medical environmentSome experts refute the government’s claims that Korea faces a doctor shortage and point towards other factors. For example, Korea has a higher population density than other countries, meaning that the average Korean doctor meets with more patients than an Austrian or Norwegian one would. Indeed, half the population is concentrated in the Seoul Capital Area. Additionally, Koreans see doctors around 19 times a year on average, which is far more frequently than any other OECD nationals. Despite this, Korea spends a lower share of its GDP on medical expenditures than other OECD countries, implying that medical personnel do more work for less financial compensation. Regional disparities where doctors are concentrated in Seoul and other major cities is also an issue. The doctor-to-people ratio in Seoul is higher than the national ratio, and the same as the OECD average. Many argue that a shortage of nurses is a greater concern than an alleged shortage of doctors. While the number of trained nurses is adequate, many leave because of harsh working conditions.
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The South Korean Out-of-Home (OOH) and Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and the proliferation of smart technologies. The market's 5.45% CAGR from 2019-2024 suggests a significant expansion, projected to continue into the forecast period (2025-2033). Key drivers include the increasing adoption of DOOH screens in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls, transportation hubs, and entertainment venues. Furthermore, the integration of advanced technologies like programmatic advertising and data analytics is enhancing the effectiveness and targeting capabilities of OOH campaigns, attracting more advertisers. While data on specific segment breakdowns is currently unavailable, we can reasonably assume that DOOH is experiencing faster growth than traditional OOH, mirroring global trends. Competitive pressures among established players like OHBROWN, spaceAdd, and PODOOH MEDIA NETWORK, alongside emerging players, are fostering innovation and driving down costs, further stimulating market expansion. Challenges, however, could include regulatory hurdles related to advertising placement and the need for ongoing investment in infrastructure to support the growing demand for DOOH solutions. The market's success will hinge on continued technological advancements and the ability of advertisers to effectively leverage data-driven strategies for enhanced campaign ROI. The South Korean OOH and DOOH market presents a lucrative opportunity for both established and emerging companies. The substantial market size in 2025 (estimated based on the provided CAGR and market trends) is expected to increase steadily. Geographic segmentation within South Korea will likely show higher concentration in major metropolitan areas like Seoul and Busan, due to higher population density and advertising spend. Companies are strategically investing in innovative DOOH technologies to improve audience engagement and measurement, offering targeted advertising solutions. The integration of mobile technology, through location-based services, further enhances the effectiveness of OOH campaigns. Future growth will depend on successful navigation of potential restraints, including managing the cost of infrastructure development and ensuring effective regulatory compliance. Ongoing market research and competitive analysis will be crucial for companies seeking to capitalize on the evolving landscape of South Korean OOH and DOOH advertising. Recent developments include: June 2024: Tizen unveiled its plans for extensive offline advertising in Seoul, slated to run for about a month, wrapping buses in prominent zones like Gangnam and Gangbuk. Additionally, the campaign features on media platforms within iconic structures in pivotal office hubs, including Gwanghwamun, Gangnam, Yeouido, and Pangyo., February 2024: Korea Economic Daily (KED) secured a significant seven-year deal aimed at overhauling advertising media at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's primary entry point. As part of the agreement, KED will replace the airport's traditional static advertising lightboxes with cutting-edge LED displays in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Concurrently, KED pledges to bolster and broaden Incheon International Airport's existing Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) offerings.. Key drivers for this market are: Growing Inclination Toward Digital Advertising, High Advertising Flexibility with Connected Screens. Potential restraints include: Growing Inclination Toward Digital Advertising, High Advertising Flexibility with Connected Screens. Notable trends are: The Transportation Segment is Expected to Hold a Major Share in the Market.
Market Size for South Korea Digital Banking Industry on the Basis of Revenue in KRW Trillion, 2018-2024 In 2023, KakaoBank introduced advanced AI-driven financial advisory tools to enhance customer experience and provide personalized recommendations. This initiative aims to cater to the growing demand for intelligent digital banking solutions and strengthen the bank’s position in the digital space. Seoul and Busan are key markets due to their high population density and well-developed technology infrastructure. The South Korea digital banking market reached a valuation of KRW 5 trillion in 2023, driven by rapid digitalization, increasing smartphone penetration, and changing consumer preferences towards seamless online financial services. The market is characterized by major players such as KakaoBank, K bank, Toss Bank, Shinhan Bank, and Woori Bank. These companies are recognized for their innovative digital offerings, expansive online platforms, and customer-focused services.
According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, over ** percent of respondents reported no religious affiliation, while approximately ** percent identified as Christians and ** percent as Buddhists. Religious population South Korea is a multi-religious society where Christianity, Buddhism, and various other religions coexist with shamanism. According to a previous study, the domestic religious population appeared to decline over time after reaching its peak in 2005, at nearly ** million people. In contrast, the share of people who are religiously unaffiliated has increased in recent years. Within the last two decades, the religiously unaffiliated population has increased from about ** percent to more than ** percent. Shamanism Shamanism has continued to significantly influence the daily lives of many South Koreans. According to a survey conducted in 2023, about ** percent of respondents reported having consulted a fortune-teller within the past year. Roughly ** percent of those respondents were already affiliated with a religion.
In 2023, there were approximately 2.1 million people aged 65 years and older in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Seoul followed with about 1.7 million. The total number of people aged 65 and older was around 9.7 million that year.
In South Korea, approximately 70.69 percent of the population was between 15 and 64 years old in 2023, while those above the age of 64 made up around 18.34 percent. The youngest generation made up an even smaller percentage than the elderly, but were the only group that did not increase in size over the last decade, partly due to a decrease in births since 2007. Reasons for fewer children While it is not always the case that family sizes shrink when there are less births per woman, the fertility rate in South Korea is undisputably decreasing overall and less children are born. The reasons people cite for having fewer children vary greatly by gender and marital status in South Korea: For example, more married people than singles - and of those more married women than men - say that the difficulty of maintaining a work life balance is the largest concern for them. Meanwhile, men express more economic concerns about child support, and notably more singles nowadays say they feel no need to have children.
In 2024, there were just over one million housing transactions in South Korea, up from about the 900,000 seen in the two years prior. The number of housing transactions in South Korea has notably decreased since 2020. Housing in South Korea There are around 23 million housing units and counting for the more than 50 million people living in South Korea. Given the mountainous topography of the peninsula and the imbalance in population density between urban and rural areas, there is limited space for constructing houses. Apartments make up most of the housing in the country as they allow for the vertical stacking of housing units. Housing outside of Seoul Detached houses have become more expensive over the years as people want space in Seoul and the surrounding areas. Many people who can afford to commute have purchased houses in the South Korean province of Gyeonggi, which is just outside the Seoul metropolitan area. The island of Jeju, below the southern coast, is also a popular holiday and retirement destination. Far less dense than the capital, detached houses constitute the highest number of housing units on the island.
Among heads of households in their seventies in South Korea, about 70 percent owned homes in 2022, followed by those in their sixties at around 68 percent. According to the source, the homeownership rate overall that year was 56 percent. Decreasing housing purchases There has been a decline in apartment prices, as the prices have averaged over five million South Korean won per square meter and surpassed 12 million won in the capital city of Seoul. This decline has partly led to lower housing transactions, with the volume of housing transactions dropping below one million. Since 2021, the sales price index for housing purchases in South Korea has experienced a sharp decline. Living in South Korea There has been a slight increase in living space per person despite the high population density in South Korean cities. While most households live in high-rise apartments with five or more stories, only a fraction live in stand-alone houses. Nonetheless, most Koreans in their thirties believe they should own their own house, though financial factors may make this difficult to achieve.
According to data on K-pop popularity based on YouTube views, only 10.1 percent of the total number of views came from South Korea, the homeland of K-pop. In terms of audience share, the country was followed by Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States. K-pop's popularity in the global music market was led by BTS, Blackpink, TWICE, Momoland, and EXO, and these five artists accounted for 54.3 percent of all K-pop YouTube views. K-pop popularity world map In terms of total YouTube views, Asia and America are evenly distributed in the top 10 rankings. However, K-pop is more popular in Asia when comparing the countries by population. According to data analyzed by K-pop experts, Korea has generated the most video views compared by population, followed by Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam. When analyzed by city, people in Ho Chi Minh and Bangkok were watching Korean pop music videos more than people in Seoul. Also, BTS' popularity in the Americas and Europe is high, followed by Black Pink. In Asia, Black Pink, BTS and TWICE have gained popularity. K-pop consumption around the world As users can easily access music content online, such as YouTube and Facebook, more and more people are enjoying Korean music content. Accordingly, the amount of money spent per month on K-pop content over the world has also doubled and stood at 9.2 U.S. dollars per person in 2019. People in the United Arab Emirates particularly spent the highest amount of money on K-pop content, an average of 36.4 U.S. dollars per month which is far higher than in other countries. On the other hand, in the world an average of 14.9 hours was spent monthly watching K-pop content. People in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam spent more time enjoying the same content.
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In 2024, Seoul had the highest population density of all provinces in South Korea, with about ****** people per square kilometer. The port city of Busan, which lies 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, followed with about ***** residents per square kilometer. With 90 people per square kilometer, Gangwon was the province with the lowest population density. Population of Seoul The capital of South Korea, Seoul, is the country's largest city with a population of nearly 9.5 million people, meaning that about 20 percent of South Korea's total population live in Seoul. Together with the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Incheon Metropolitan Area, the greater Seoul region (or Seoul Capital Area) is home to half of the total population of South Korea. This region also forms one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Solving the problem of overpopulation in Seoul One of the major problems stemming from overpopulation in Seoul is the housing shortage, leading to a significant surge in real estate prices. Over the past few years, several efforts have been made to curb the excessive population concentration and to solve the associated economic and social problems. In 2007, for example, former President Roh Moo-hyun attempted to move the country's administrative capital to Sejong, which is located 120 kilometers south of Seoul. Although the grand plan did not fully work out, around 40 central administrative agencies have since been moved from Seoul to Sejong, turning the city into the de facto administrative capital of South Korea.