September apartment move-ins to drop 30% from August, with 7 in 10 units concentrated in greater Seoul

Nationwide apartment move-ins in September are forecast to fall about 30% from this month, with the greater Seoul area set to account for roughly seven in 10 units as provincial supply drops sharply.

According to a survey by real estate platform Zigbang released Monday, September move-ins nationwide are expected to total 10,184 units, down 18.2% from 12,454 units in the same month last year.

By region, the greater Seoul area accounts for 6,936 units and the provinces for 3,248 units. The month-on-month decline in provincial supply, at 42.4%, is markedly steeper than the greater Seoul area's 23.5% drop. On an annual basis, provincial supply is also falling faster than the greater Seoul area's 20.6% decline. Total provincial move-ins this year are projected at 88,161 units, down 31.3% from 128,301 units in 2025. October, however, is scheduled to see 8,083 move-ins.

In Seoul, 3,478 units are set to move in across three complexes: DIH Bangbae in Seocho-gu's Bangbae-dong (3,064 units), Gangbyeon Station Central I'Park in Gwangjin-gu's Guui-dong (215 units) and Bomun Central I'Park in Seongbuk-gu's Bomun-dong (199 units). Gyeonggi Province will see 3,332 units across five complexes. Other regions follow in order: South Gyeongsang Province (1,509 units), South Chungcheong Province (816 units), Gangwon Province (543 units), North Gyeongsang Province (212 units), Busan (168 units) and Incheon (126 units).

Among provincial complexes, the largest is Changwon Central I'Park in Sinwol-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon, with 1,509 units. Others include Asan Sinchang 1st Gwangshin Progress in Sinchang-myeon, Asan (450 units); Gongju Wolsong District Gyeongnam Honorsville in Wolsong-dong, Gongju (366 units); Chuncheon Atera the First in Dong-myeon, Chuncheon (543 units); Pohang Xi the Ocean in Buk-gu, Pohang (212 units); and Geoje Station Yangwoo Naeane Asiad in Geoje-dong, Yeonje-gu, Busan (168 units).

Zigbang expects move-in volume to rebound after September, with an average of roughly 14,700 units per month scheduled for the remaining three months of the year — October through December. Areas with large-complex move-ins could see a short-term increase in jeonse and monthly rental listings, analysts note.

"DIH Bangbae is subject to the price ceiling on new apartments, but the owner-occupancy requirement does not apply to general pre-sale units under the pre-sale price criteria," a Zigbang official said. "Since existing union-member units can also be rented out, there is a possibility that jeonse and monthly rental listings will increase around the time of move-in. It will be worth watching whether this adds supply to the Gangnam-area rental market, which has been experiencing a persistent shortage of listings."