As the proportion of dwellings built over 30 years ago has increased, the aging of dwellings across the country has intensified.
According to an analysis of data from the Korea Housing Management Information System (K-apt) by Real Estate R114 on the 17th, the proportion of dwellings over 30 years old nationwide in 2025 is projected to be 22%, a 10 percentage point increase compared to three years ago. The proportion of aging dwellings in key regions is 21% in the capital region and 22% in rural areas, while the five metropolitan cities in rural areas show a rate of 25%, confirming that one in four dwellings is an aging property.
With the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Housing Management Act on October 25 last year, the criteria for K-apt's dwellings are defined as apartment complexes, multi-family houses, and townhouses with over 100 units that are required to disclose management costs.
When examining the proportion of dwellings over 30 years old by province, Daejeon (35%), Seoul (29%), Jeonnam (27%), Jeonbuk (26%), Incheon (25%), and Ulsan (25%) are listed in order. Real Estate R114 explained that Daejeon, where more than one-third of the dwellings are aging complexes, showed distinct aging primarily in the Dunsan area (Dunsan-dong and Wolpyeong-dong) where construction concentrated from 1991 to 1994.
In Seoul, the proportion of aging dwellings was high in Sanggye-dong and Junggye-dong in Nowon-gu, Sinjeong-dong in Yangcheon-gu, Gayang-dong in Gangseo-gu, and Chang-dong in Dobong-gu. Additionally, Yeosu in Jeonnam, Jeonju in Jeonbuk, and Yeonsu-dong and Dongchun-dong in Yeonsu-gu of Incheon, as well as Sangok-dong in Bupyeong-gu, were found to be areas densely populated with dwellings over 30 years old.
It is anticipated that the number of newly constructed apartments to be occupied in 2026 and 2027 will fall below the average level (about 360,000 units from 2015 to 2024), while apartments built in 1996 and 1997, which will surpass 30 years after completion by the year after next, are estimated to reach around 800,000 units nationwide. Even considering the dwellings that are decommissioned each year from the housing stock, the expansion of the proportion of aging dwellings seems inevitable. If the proportion of aging dwellings continues to rise, fears will grow that the competitiveness of cities will decline due to population outflow and regional economic contraction.
Real Estate R114 noted, "Following the enforcement of the Special Act on the Maintenance and Support of Aging Planned Cities at the end of April last year, the 'Urban and Residential Environment Maintenance Act', containing contents on the reconstruction fast track, was amended on the 4th. Moreover, the new government is also indicating a commitment to improve the residential environment of old urban areas and expand supply by easing regulations on maintenance projects, which raises expectations for swift project progress."
It added, "However, to ensure the smooth progress of urban regeneration projects involving both public and private participation, additional alternatives are needed, especially in areas with high concerns over project viability. In particular, in rural areas, simply easing building regulations and providing incentive benefits are insufficient to enhance revenue. It is necessary to consider differentiated policies for regions with weak development conditions and provide administrative and financial support to supplement project viability."