Seoul households shrinking in size

Nearly half of the households in Seoul City have one or two members, reflecting a fast-changing living trend, a public survey showed Monday.

According to the survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, 48 percent of the households belonged to these two categories. The two-member households were mostly married couples without children.

The annual survey also showed that 7.5 percent of the households were either separated or divorced, with those in their 40s and 50s occupying the highest proportion of 11.9 percent.

The survey was conducted on approximately 50,000 individuals and 5,500 companies in the city last year. It included 2,500 foreigners.

The average monthly income of the households was around 3 to 4 million won ($3,700), it added.

The household debt rate recorded 48.2 percent, showing little year-on-year difference, due mainly to the rising cost of housing lease or purchase, the survey said.

In terms of the level of happiness, the respondents gave 72 out of 100 points on average. The younger the respondents were and the lower their income level, the higher their happiness figure was, it added.

Meanwhile, foreign respondents gave 76 points fo living conditions in Seoul City and 74.4 points tono safety. The living conditions included transportation and environment factors.

Chinese residents expressed the highest satisfaction in life quality with 73.4 points, while Japanese gave the lowest marks with 56.7 points, it said.

About 75 percent of the foreign residents responded that they were content with their married life in Seoul City, showing a 10.7 rise over 2013. Chinese residents showed the highest satisfaction rate with 78.8 percent, followed by those from the U.K. and U.S., with 77.4 percent, officials said.

Taiwanese and Vietnamese, on the other hand, were least satisfied with life here with 67.7 percent, and 69.5 percent, respectively.

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)