Nearly half of collective building gifts in Seoul last month were made by people in their 50s and 60s. Analysts said mortgage loan regulations that cap the loan limit appear to have had an impact.
On Mar. 16, ZIGBANG CO. analyzed ownership transfer registration statistics from the Supreme Court Registration Information Plaza (based on real estate type collective buildings and donors) and found that the number of donors in Seoul was 1,773 in February, up from 1,624 in January.
There was also a shift in the age structure of donors. While people in their 70s and older still account for the largest share, the share of those in their 50s and 60s has recently expanded, pulling the timing of gifts somewhat earlier than before.
As of February, the age shares of donors in Seoul were 3.61% in their 40s, 16.19% in their 50s, 32.83% in their 60s, and 43.03% in their 70s and older. By single age group, the share of those in their 70s and older remains the highest, but participation by people in their 50s and 60s is expanding.
In particular, the share of those in their 70s and older fell from 49.26% in January to 43.03% in February, while the share of those in their 50s rose from 13.42% to 16.19%. The combined share of those in their 50s and 60s was 49.02%, exceeding the 43.03% share of those in their 70s and older. Overall, the elderly still account for a large share, but recent growth in gifts by those in their 50s and 60s has brought the timing of gifts somewhat forward.
Meanwhile, nationwide, the structure of gifting remains centered on the elderly. As of February 2026, the national age shares of donors were 6.00% in their 40s, 14.73% in their 50s, 24.17% in their 60s, and 49.29% in their 70s and older. About half of all gifts still occur among those in their 70s and older, and even when combining the 50s and 60s shares, the total of 38.90% fell short of the 70s and older share.
By region, however, differences appear in the age structure. In the Seoul metropolitan area, the timing of gifts has been brought forward compared with before, with gifts occurring relatively more among younger age groups, while in non-capital regions, the elderly-centered structure persists.
In Gyeonggi Province, as of February, the shares were 6.16% in their 40s, 17.86% in their 50s, 29.52% in their 60s, and 41.17% in their 70s and older. Compared with the national average, the shares of those in their 50s and 60s are relatively higher. Notably, the combined share of those in their 50s and 60s was 47.38%, surpassing the 41.17% share of those in their 70s and older.
By contrast, in non-capital regions, the elderly-centered gifting structure remains pronounced. As of February 2026, the share of those in their 70s and older was highest in North Jeolla at 78.13%, followed by South Jeolla at 55.91%, South Gyeongsang at 55.78%, South Chungcheong at 53.57%, North Chungcheong at 52.78%, and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province at 51.54%. Unlike the Seoul metropolitan area, non-capital regions continue to see an elderly-centered gifting structure.
ZIGBANG CO. said the difference in donor age structures between the Seoul metropolitan area and non-capital regions stems from an increase, particularly in the capital area, in bringing forward the timing of gifts in line with children's dwelling purchase schedules. It also noted that, as dwelling prices have remained high mainly in the capital area, more cases have emerged of parents' funds being used when the younger generation secures dwellings, which it analyzed as a driver of the capital-centered increase in gifts.
ZIGBANG CO. said, "In particular, as tighter lending regulations have limited the size of financial funds available for dwelling purchases, the burden of necessary equity has grown, which appears to have had an effect," adding, "As it has become harder to raise funds through loans than in the past, more families are using gifts in the form of parents transferring asset to children during the dwelling purchase process."