The Better Off Live, the Higher Rate of Living in Apartments

A survey showed that the type of housing people live in varies according to income level.

The Gyeonggi Development Institute revealed in a report titled "Current Status and Improvement Plans for Housing Level Disparity by Income Level" released on the 18th that households with lower incomes have a higher rate of living in detached houses, while those with higher incomes have a higher apartment occupancy rate.

Based on 2005 data, the proportion of urban wage-earning households with a monthly average income of 70% or less compared to the urban worker average was 55.5% in northern Gyeonggi, while southern areas showed a rate of 45.9%, approximately 10% lower, indicating that income levels in southern areas are higher than in northern areas.

By city and county, Yeoncheon had the lowest income level, with 74.9% of households earning 70% or less of the urban worker average monthly income, followed by Gapyeong, Dongducheon, and Yeoju at 71.4%, 69.0%, and 64.5% respectively.

In contrast, Gwacheon had the highest income level at 30.1%, followed by Yongin at 35.8%, Gunpo at 37.0%, and Goyang at 37.6%, forming the upper income bracket within the province.

Additionally, by population size, the proportion of households earning 70% or less of the urban worker average monthly income decreased in the order of cities with over 500,000 population, cities with under 500,000, urban-rural composite cities, and counties, indicating that income levels are relatively higher in larger urban areas.

Accordingly, the report noted that relatively lower-income northeastern areas such as Yangpyeong, Gapyeong, and Yeoncheon have a higher rate of living in detached houses, while higher-income areas such as Yongin, Goyang, Suwon, and Bucheon have higher apartment occupancy rates.

Additionally, the apartment occupancy rate for the top 10% income earners was 62%, while it was only 16% for the bottom 10% income earners, showing that the higher the income level, the higher the apartment occupancy rate.

Meanwhile, households in Gyeonggi Province that fall below the minimum housing standard averaged 12.3%, with regional variations showing higher rates in Uiwang at 27.5%, Guri at 17.3%, and Uijeongbu at 14.2%, while Namyangju, Yeoju, Yongin, and Hwaseong showed lower rates of less than 5%.

Accordingly, the report pointed out that the following measures are necessary to mitigate housing level disparity: ▲Policy support such as public rental housing supply ▲Urban renewal projects ▲Housing cost support including jeonse deposit loans ▲Evaluation of housing standards and housing welfare policies.