Wealthy Koreans Growing Fast

1. What’s Happening
The latest report shows that the number of wealthy people in South Korea with at least 10 billion won in financial assets grew by about 3% compared with last year. These wealthy individuals now hold roughly 3,066 trillion won in financial assets—more than half of all household financial assets in the country. The number of rich people has more than tripled since 2011, growing much faster than the total population. Wealth sources have also shifted: today, business income and financial investment gains are bigger contributors than in the past.

2. What It Means
This growth shows that wealth concentration is increasing, with rich households accumulating assets faster than average families. Because financial investment is becoming more important, wealthy people may be more sensitive to changes in the stock market and financial conditions. The shift toward stocks and other financial assets could signal changing investment ideas in Korea. Wealth inequality may also affect how people think about economy and opportunity.

3. Watch Points

• Wealth Growth Rate: If rich households continue to grow assets faster than others, inequality may widen.

• Investment Choices: How wealthy people shift between stocks, real estate, and alternative assets could affect markets.

• Economic Policy: Government actions on taxation, finance, or markets may influence future wealth trends.

Source
Cho, J. (2025, December 14). 금융자산 10억 이상 ‘한국 부자’는 47.6만명…‘부동산보다 주식이 유망’. Hankyoreh. Retrieved from https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/economy/finance/1234434.html Hani