Seoul’s downtown skyline appears hazy on Feb. 5 as fine dust levels reached “bad.” Photo by Asia Today
Feb. 13 (Asia Today) — Poverty is increasingly being passed down across generations in South Korea’s non-metropolitan regions, with education reform cited as a key starting point for reversing the trend.
A recent report by the Bank of Korea titled “Interregional Population Mobility and Intergenerational Economic Inheritance” found that social mobility has sharply declined outside the capital region.
According to the report, eight out of 10 children ages 36 to 40 who were born to parents in the bottom 50% income bracket outside the capital region and remained in their hometowns still fall within the bottom half of income earners. The rate has risen significantly from 58.9% in earlier years to 80.9% in recent data.
The findings support the long-held perception that children from economically disadvantaged families who relocate to the capital region have greater chances of upward mobility, while those who remain in provincial areas are more likely to experience continued economic hardship. The pattern has become more pronounced among younger generations.
Regional income disparities have also widened. The per capita income gap between the capital region and non-capital areas grew from 3.2 million won ($2,370) in 2005 to 5.5 million won ($4,070) in 2023, based on prevailing exchange rates. During roughly the same period, real apartment prices in Seoul rose 19.6%, while prices in non-metropolitan regions fell 3%.
The report suggests that birthplace increasingly shapes economic opportunity in South Korea. While manufacturing once provided quality jobs in regional areas, high-paying positions in knowledge-based industries are now concentrated in the capital region. Young people continue to migrate to Seoul and surrounding areas in search of work, reinforcing the cycle of concentration.
Experts say a comprehensive government response is needed. They argue that reforming the education system should be the first step, particularly by expanding opportunities for students in disadvantaged regions.
As one proposed measure, the central bank recommended a regional proportional admissions system. Under the proposal, top universities in the capital region would consider the regional distribution of the school-age population when selecting students. The framework would also include additional consideration for low-income students in non-capital regions, who face greater barriers to admission compared to higher-income peers.
In the longer term, analysts say substantial investment is required to strengthen the competitiveness of schools and major universities outside the capital region. They argue that students in provincial areas should be able to develop their potential without relocating to Seoul.
More broadly, the report calls for an effective national balanced development strategy. Among the options discussed is a development model centered on regional hub cities capable of achieving economies of scale.
The authors conclude that poverty should not be determined by birthplace and urge the government to demonstrate resolve in implementing balanced regional policies.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260212010004700