Capital Region: Half of Nation's Population Concentrated on 12% of Land

The overconcentration in the Capital Region, where more than half of the total population resides in an area less than 12% of the nation's land, is a serious problem. This is identified as the root of various social issues such as real estate, transportation, and low birth rates, and is a major cause of intensifying polarization, which diminishes vitality in provincial areas and overheats the Capital Region.

Due to this overconcentration, transportation congestion costs amounting to approximately 70 trillion won annually (3% of GDP) are incurred. At the same time, analyses suggest that provincial areas are facing a risk of extinction due to population outflow.

Consequently, it has been pointed out that expanding infrastructure and strengthening competitiveness in provincial areas are necessary for balanced national development. Furthermore, a broader form of local autonomy and national land restructuring have been proposed.