In 2024, the top ten percent of households in South Korea owned about 44.4 percent of total household net worth, while households in the lowest wealth decile owned minus 0.1 percent. The average net worth of households in the top wealth decile was about two billion South Korean won.

In 2024, the average net worth of households in South Korea amounted to around 449 million South Korean won, up from about 435 million South Korean won in the previous year. The average wealth of households in South Korea has risen steadily in recent years.

In 2024, an estimated 461,000 people in South Korea owned financial assets worth one billion South Korean won or more. This was a year-on-year increase of around one percent. The rise in stock prices was, among other things, the key reason for the jump in the wealth of these millionaires. High-net-worth-individuals (HNWIs) in South Korea High-net-worth individuals (HNWI) refer to persons with a net worth of over one million U.S. dollars including their primary residence. The number of HNWIs in South Korea has risen steadily in recent years. While there were about 481 thousand HNWIs in 2016, the number exceeded 830,000 in 2021 and is expected to double the 2015 figure by 2026. South Korea was among the top 15 countries with the most ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), whose net assets, including their homes, exceed 50 million U.S. dollars. Who are the wealthiest people in South Korea? In recent years, South Korea has also seen an increase in the number of billionaires, with the capital Seoul being one of the leading cities in the world with the most resident billionaires. With a net worth of around 11.5 billion U.S dollars, Lee Jae-yong (Jay Y. Lee), executive chairman of Samsung Electronics and son of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, was the wealthiest person in South Korea as of 2024. Seo Jung-jin, the founder of South Korea's biopharmaceutical company Celltrion, followed and led the wealth ranking along with Samsung boss Lee.

In 2024, household net worth in South Korea's capital Seoul amounted to around 647 million South Korean won, down from about 660 million South Korean won a year earlier. Seoul's household net worth was the highest among all cities and provinces in South Korea that year.

Key information about South Korea Household Income per Capita

• South Korea Annual Household Income per Capita reached 19,208.928 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the previous value of 19,230.954 USD in Dec 2023.
• South Korea Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2003 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 14,290.376 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 19,230.954 USD in Dec 2023 and a record low of 7,685.194 USD in Dec 2003.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of South Korea dropped 0.473 % YoY in May 2023.

CEIC calculates Annual Household Income per Capita from quarterly Monthly Household Income multiplied by 3 and quarterly Average Household Size and converts it into USD. Statistics Korea provides Household Income in local currency and Average Household Size. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Household Income excludes single person and farm households. Household Income per Capita prior to 2019 is based on old methodology.

In 2024, the median household wealth in Seoul, South Korea amounted to around 767 million South Korean won, followed by Sejong with about 762 million South Korean won. The average wealth of households was highest in the capital Seoul and lowest in Chungnam.

Disposable Personal Income in South Korea increased to 2438286.40 KRW Billion in 2023 from 2349203.90 KRW Billion in 2022. This dataset provides - South Korea Total Households Disposable Income - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Korea Relative Poverty Rate: All Households: Disposable Income data was reported at 14.700 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.800 % for 2015. Korea Relative Poverty Rate: All Households: Disposable Income data is updated yearly, averaging 14.700 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.300 % in 2009 and a record low of 13.800 % in 2015. Korea Relative Poverty Rate: All Households: Disposable Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H066: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): Income Distribution.

Korea Gini's Coefficient Index: Urban Households: Disposable Income data was reported at 0.278 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.269 NA for 2015. Korea Gini's Coefficient Index: Urban Households: Disposable Income data is updated yearly, averaging 0.277 NA from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2016, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.295 NA in 2009 and a record low of 0.245 NA in 1992. Korea Gini's Coefficient Index: Urban Households: Disposable Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H066: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): Income Distribution.

South Korea HS: UW: 1 Quintile: Persons per Household data was reported at 1.650 Person in 2017. South Korea HS: UW: 1 Quintile: Persons per Household data is updated yearly, averaging 1.650 Person from Dec 2017 (Median) to 2017, with 1 observations. South Korea HS: UW: 1 Quintile: Persons per Household data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H063: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Urban Salary and Wage Earner.

Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Financial Assets data was reported at 102,370.000 KRW th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 96,340.000 KRW th for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Financial Assets data is updated yearly, averaging 91,450.000 KRW th from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102,370.000 KRW th in 2017 and a record low of 63,790.000 KRW th in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Financial Assets data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H078: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Age Groups of Households Head (10Age).

Korea HS: OH: 5 Quintile: Income data was reported at 8,051,993.000 KRW in Jun 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 7,866,826.000 KRW for Mar 2018. Korea HS: OH: 5 Quintile: Income data is updated quarterly, averaging 6,551,630.500 KRW from Mar 2003 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 62 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,051,993.000 KRW in Jun 2018 and a record low of 4,531,006.000 KRW in Jun 2003. Korea HS: OH: 5 Quintile: Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H064: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): by Income Quintile: Other Household.

In 2024, South Korean millionaires' primary source of wealth was success in business, followed by real estate. Recently, the share of South Korean millionaires who sourced their wealth from business success has steadily increased.

Money Supply M3 in South Korea increased to 5709883.90 KRW Billion in January from 5661870.20 KRW Billion in December of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Money Supply M3 - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Net primary income (Net income from abroad) (current US$) in South Korea was reported at 31909777603 USD in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. South Korea - Net income from abroad - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

Money Supply M0 in South Korea increased to 188618200 KRW Million in January from 182672200 KRW Million in December of 2024. This dataset provides - South Korea Money Supply M0 - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Net Worth data was reported at 217,690.000 KRW th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 198,530.000 KRW th for 2016. Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Net Worth data is updated yearly, averaging 181,560.000 KRW th from Mar 2010 (Median) to 2017, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 217,690.000 KRW th in 2017 and a record low of 157,160.000 KRW th in 2010. Korea Average: AH: 30~39: Net Worth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.H078: SHFLC: Household Assets, Liabilities & Income By Age Groups of Households Head (10Age).

Korea Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Latin America & The Caribbean data was reported at 2.673 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.543 % for 2015. Korea Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Latin America & The Caribbean data is updated yearly, averaging 1.896 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2016, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.491 % in 1985 and a record low of 0.012 % in 1972. Korea Imports: Low- and Middle-Income Economies: % of Total Goods Imports: Latin America & The Caribbean data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.World Bank: Imports. Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Latin America and the Caribbean are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Latin America and the Caribbean region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.; ; World Bank staff estimates based data from International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade database.; Weighted average;

Korea Relative Poverty Rate: All Households: Mkt Income data was reported at 19.500 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 18.600 % for 2015. Korea Relative Poverty Rate: All Households: Mkt Income data is updated yearly, averaging 17.900 % from Dec 2006 (Median) to 2016, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 19.500 % in 2016 and a record low of 16.600 % in 2006. Korea Relative Poverty Rate: All Households: Mkt Income data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Korea – Table KR.H066: Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HS): Income Distribution.

Korea SD: Resources: NC: Current Taxes on Income, Wealth, Etc. (CT) data was reported at 0.000 KRW bn in 2017. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 KRW bn for 2016. Korea SD: Resources: NC: Current Taxes on Income, Wealth, Etc. (CT) data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 KRW bn from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2017, with 43 observations. Korea SD: Resources: NC: Current Taxes on Income, Wealth, Etc. (CT) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The Bank of Korea. The data is categorized under Global Database’s South Korea – Table KR.A028: SNA08: Income Accounts by Institutional Sectors: Secondary Distribution of Income Account (SD).