OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Corea de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: KOREA © OECD 2026

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) People experiencing homelessness are defined as persons who have lived without a permanent abode for a substantial period, persons who have used a facility for the homeless or have lived in a facility for the homeless for a substantial period and persons who have lived at a place with substantially low habitability for a substantial period. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 12 725 individuals, representing 0.02% of the total population (2024) 22.4% are women, 77.6% are men Point-in-time count, based on the Status Study of the Homeless ETHOS Light groups included Included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Not included: • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) According to the Act on Support for Welfare and Self-Reliance of the Homeless, the Minister of Health and Welfare must conduct a fact-finding survey every five years as to the current state, needs, and psychological state of homeless persons and the state of assistance provided to such persons by the public and private sectors. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)

must conduct a fact-finding survey every five years as to the current state, needs, and psychological state of homeless persons and the state of assistance provided to such persons by the public and private sectors. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: The 2nd Comprehensive Plan for Welfare and Self-Reliance Support for the Homeless • Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategies addressing homelessness: Anti-poverty strategy, Healthcare strategy • Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Status Study on the Homeless: Enumerators count and survey people experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping rough, in homelessness facilities and living in jjokbang (Table 6.1).

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Korea2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: KOREA © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness According to the Act on Support for Welfare and Self-Reliance of the Homeless, homeless persons are defined as: (a) Persons who have lived without a permanent abode for a substantial period; (b) Persons who have used a facility for the homeless or have lived in a facility for the homeless for a substantial period; (c) Persons who have lived at a place with substantially low habitability for a substantial period. Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People living rough ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS

emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2016 17 532 0.03% Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included 2021 14 404 0.03% Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included 2024 12 725 0.02% Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: Yes

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: No o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: Percentage of total population is an OECD calculation based on historical population data.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Health and Welfare (2025), Status study on the homeless.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Note: Percentage of total population is an OECD calculation based on historical population data.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Health and Welfare (2025), Status study on the homeless.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2024 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness NA 9 865 2 851 NA NA NA As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness NA 77.60% 22.40% NA NA NA 3

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: KOREA © OECD 2026

ETHOS Light 1: People living rough NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends NA NA NA NA NA NA Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: No o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Health and Welfare (2025), Status study on the homeless.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness Act on Support for Welfare and Self-Reliance of the Homeless

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness Act on Support for Welfare and Self-Reliance of the Homeless Legal obligations The Minister of Health and Welfare must conduct a fact-finding survey every five years as to the current state, needs, and psychological state of homeless persons and the state of assistance provided to such persons by the public and private sectors, and publish the results thereof. The Minister of Health and Welfare may also request the head of a relevant central administrative agency, local government, public institution, corporation, or other organization to submit necessary materials or to present their opinions to inform the survey. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy • National Homelessness Strategy: The 2nd Comprehensive Plan for Welfare and Self-Reliance Support for the Homeless • Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategies addressing homelessness: Anti-poverty strategy, Healthcare strategy Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Yes. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Status Study on the Homeless Description Enumerators count and survey people experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping rough, staying in homeless facilities, and living in jjokbang. The homelessness survey includes both a point-in-time enumeration and interviews of a sample of those being enumerated. In 2024, a total of 12,725 individuals were enumerated, while 1,700 individuals were interviewed. The enumeration was conducted in May while the interviews were conducted in May and June. Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods • Street count • Service-based method4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: KOREA © OECD 2026

Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Health and Welfare Source(s) of information People experiencing homelessness were enumerated and/or interviewed directly Scope National level Depth of data The enumeration includes basic demographic information while the interviews provide detailed demographic information, as well as information about the living

Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Health and Welfare Source(s) of information People experiencing homelessness were enumerated and/or interviewed directly Scope National level Depth of data The enumeration includes basic demographic information while the interviews provide detailed demographic information, as well as information about the living conditions for people experiencing homelessness Frequency Every 5 years ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources 2024 Homeless Survey Results Announced - Press Release | Briefing Room | News | Republic of Korea Policy Briefing

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html.

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: KOREA © OECD 2026

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