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Happiness eludes Koreans despite national income increases, quality of life report says

Published: 09 Mar. 2026, 11:01

Morning commuters head to their offices in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, on Feb. 19. [NEWS1]

Koreans are earning more than ever, but fewer are satisfied with their income — the first drop in a decade, a new government report shows.

Negative emotions such as depression and anxiety have risen to levels similar to those seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, while indicators related to health and social relationships — including suicide and obesity rates — have also worsened. The deterioration was particularly pronounced among people in their 40s, often described as the core of the workforce.

The Ministry of Data and Statistics released a report titled “Quality of Life of Koreans 2025” (translated) on March 5, analyzing changes in overall well-being in Korean society and measuring 71 indicators across 11 sectors.

Most indicators related to income, consumption and assets improved. Gross national income per capita reached 43.81 million won ($30,000) in 2024, up 1.46 million won, or 3.5 percent, from 42.35 million won in 2023.

Household net assets — total assets minus debt — averaged 404.29 million won last year, an increase of 11.1 million won from 2024.

Visitors walk past blooming red plum blossoms in the garden of the Gwangju National Museum in Gwangju on Feb. 26. [YONHAP]

Despite the gains, satisfaction with income declined. The share of people satisfied with their income stood at 28 percent last year, down 0.1 percentage point from 2023. That means only about two to three out of 10 people feel satisfied with their earnings.

Income satisfaction had been steadily rising since 2015, when it stood at 11.4 percent, but declined last year for the first time in a decade. The drop was particularly sharp among people aged 60 and older, whose satisfaction rate fell from 25.6 percent in 2023 to 23.1 percent last year, a decline of 2.5 percentage points.

Kim Sang-bong, a professor of economics at Hansung University, said the change could reflect growing feelings of relative deprivation.

“Large performance bonuses concentrated in a few conglomerates may have increased perceptions of relative poverty,” Kim said. “Another factor could be declining income among people over 60 who retire despite wanting to continue working.”

The relative poverty rate, defined as the share of people earning less than 50 percent of the median income, also worsened. It rose to 15.3 percent in 2024, up 0.4 percentage point from 14.9 percent the previous year.

The indicator had been improving since 2011, when it stood at 18.5 percent, but stagnated around 15 percent between 2021 and 2023 before rising again last year.

Among those aged 66 and older, the relative poverty rate was far higher at 39.8 percent, meaning roughly four out of 10 elderly people live in poverty.

Overall life satisfaction remained unchanged at 6.4 out of 10 in 2024, but negative emotions — including depression and anxiety — rose to 3.8, up from 3.1 the previous year.

After declining from 4.0 in 2021 to 3.1 in 2023, the negative emotion index increased again in 2024, returning to levels similar to those seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A bronze sculpture in the shape of two people consoling each other is seen on Mapo Bridge in western Seoul on Sept. 25, 2025. The sculpture intends to prevent suicide attempts on the bridge. [NEWS1]

Compared with Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, Korea’s life satisfaction remains low. Between 2022 and 2024, Korea recorded an average score of 6.04, well below the OECD average of 6.50, ranking 33rd among 38 countries.

Other indicators related to health and social relationships also deteriorated.

The obesity rate rose to 38.1 percent in 2024, up 0.9 percentage points from 37.2 percent a year earlier. The suicide rate increased to 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, up from 27.3 the previous year.

Participation in social organizations — such as clubs and volunteer groups — fell sharply to 52.3 percent in 2024, down 5.9 percentage points from the previous year.

These indicators showed the most significant deterioration among people in their 40s.

The obesity rate among those in their 40s rose to 44.1 percent in 2024, up 6.4 percentage points from the previous year, far exceeding the overall increase of 0.9 percentage points. The suicide rate among people in their 40s also rose by 4.7 deaths per 100,000 people, a larger increase than in other age groups.

Participation in social groups fell most sharply among people in their 40s, dropping 8.9 percentage points.

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191 or the Crisis Counseling Center at 1577-0199. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling, contact 02-2075-4180 (+1) to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY NAM SOO-HYOUN [[email protected]]