South Korea's Population Is Overwhelmingly Urban

82% of South Koreans lived in urban areas as of 2020 (World Bank), up from just 34% in 1960. Only 18% remain rural.

Drivers of this extreme urbanization:

• Economic Miracle: Export-led industrialization (1960s–90s) created massive factory/service jobs in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan.
• Government Policy: Centralized development, infrastructure investment (expressways, subway, KTX) in metro areas.
• Education/Culture: Top universities, hospitals, cultural institutions concentrated in Seoul Capital Area (half the population).
• Rural Decline: Aging farm population, land consolidation, service withdrawal.

Seoul Metro alone houses ~26 million (50% of national pop). Korea is one of the world's most urbanized large nations.