S. Korea's population moves less in 2009 amid economic slump

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's population mobility fell in 2009 as
people were discouraged from moving amid slumping economic conditions, a
government report showed Wednesday.
According to the report by Statistics Korea, 8.49 million people changed their
legal residence last year, down 3.6 percent from a year earlier. This marked the
third consecutive year of contraction since 2007 when the mobility declined 2.9
percent.
The downward trend is attributed to sluggish housing market and economic
conditions that discouraged people from moving. South Korea has around 49 million
population with over 10 million residing in Seoul and its surrounding areas.
People who moved in Seoul and its surrounding areas declined last year as well,
continuing its downward move for the five straight year, the report showed.
Net population increase there totaled 44,000, also the lowest on-year growth
since 1999 when 95,000 people were added to their residence list, according to
the report.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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