Average Korean household earns $3,900 per month

An average Korean household is surveyed to earn 5.44 million won ($3,928) a month and spend about half of the money (2.76 million won) while allocating 10 percent of the monthly income to debt repayment. Their average assets stand at about 600 million won, with 80 percent of it represented in real estate assets.

This is according to the latest report released by Shinhan Bank on Wednesday. Titled “Ordinary people’s financial life report,” it contained the results of a recent survey of 10,000 working people aged 20 to 64.

The report showed that the average monthly income of the nation’s households engaged in economic activities amounted to 5.44 million won last year, which has risen by 4.4 percent, or 230,000 won, from the previous year.

The average monthly income from the top 20 percentile stood at 10.85 million won, which is 5.6 times higher than that of the bottom 20 percentile, standing at 1.95 million won. There has been a slight reduction in income inequality between the two income brackets, from the previous year’s 5.7 times.

While the average monthly household income increased by 4.4 percent year-on-year, household average consumption expenditure rose by 5.7 percent. While the average household spent about 50.7 percent of its monthly income, about 20.1 percent was allocated to rainy day funds, followed by 19.3 percent in savings or investments and 9.9 percent for debt repayment.

The average household’s total assets reached 629.4 million won last year, a 4.8 percent increase from the previous year, surpassing the 600 million won mark for the first time.

Real estate assets accounted for the highest proportion out of asset classes, standing at 79.7 percent of the average household’s assets. This showed a slight decrease of 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous year.

The total size of assets for the top 20 percent bracket was 1.16 billion won, which was 7.2 times higher than that of the bottom 20 percent bracket.

Also, 64.8 percent of the economically active households surveyed averaged 120.1 million won in debt. The average debt balance for households showed a year-onyear decrease of 7 percent from the previous year.

The survey also showed Koreans’ thoughts on wedding gift money.

Two-thirds of respondents said they would give 100,000 won as a wedding gift if they attended the ceremony. If they don’t attend the ceremony, more than half said that 50,000 won is the right amount.