Key facts
- As of the end of 2025, 39.4% of South Korea's registered population owned land.
- This equates to 20.12 million individuals out of a registered population of 51.22 million.
- The number of landowners increased by 2.4% compared to the previous year.
- However, the total land area owned by individuals decreased by 0.3% year-on-year.
- Land ownership was most prevalent among individuals in their 60s (30%), followed by those in their 70s (22%) and 50s (20.5%).
- Men represented 54.3% of landowners, while women made up 45.7%.
In South Korea, approximately 39.4% of the registered population, totaling 20.12 million individuals, owned land as of the end of 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This figure represents a 2.4% increase in the number of landowners from the previous year.
Despite the rise in the number of individuals owning land, the total area they possessed saw a slight decrease of 0.3% year-on-year, amounting to 46,127 square kilometers.
The data also indicated that land ownership is most concentrated among older demographics, with 30% of individuals in their 60s owning land, followed by those in their 70s at 22% and their 50s at 20.5%. Men constituted the majority of landowners at 54.3%, while women accounted for 45.7%. The ministry noted a steady growth in women's land ownership since 2022.
Furthermore, the total area of land owned by corporations saw a marginal increase of 0.8% compared to the prior year, while land held by non-corporate entities, such as religious organizations, remained stable.