{
  "id": 11225603,
  "title": "'It's not that we like Seoul': Young Koreans explain why they leave their hometowns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/its-not-that-we-like-seoul-young-koreans-explain-why-they-leave-their-11225603",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T15:57:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20261002/its-not-that-we-like-seoul-young-koreans-explain-why-they-leave-their-hometowns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Why do you insist on living in Seoul? Young people from outside the capital city often face this question, but they argue it misses the mark. Approximately 30,000 individuals migrate to Seoul annually, based on data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The younger generation has grown accustomed to the regional divide that once existed between the Jeolla provinces in the southwest and the Gyeongsang provinces in the southeast. This antagonism has diminished, but the concentration of opportunities in Seoul has intensified the marginalization of those who remain in other regions. A roundtable discussion with eight participants shed light on the experiences of young Koreans leaving their hometowns for Seoul. While regional prejudice appears to have lessened among younger generations, it still manifests in subtle forms. One participant noted that the rivalry between Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, which was more pronounced in older age groups, is not as prevalent today among those in their 20s. However, some participants have encountered instances of anti-Jeolla sentiment, particularly among friends whose parents hail from the Jeolla region, even if expressed more openly.",
  "summary": "\"Why do you insist on living in Seoul? You could just live in your own region.\" Young people from outside the capital hear that question often, and they say it misses the point. About 30,000 of them move to Seoul each year in net terms for university or work, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The regional antagonism that split their parents' generation between the Jeolla provinces…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "'It's not that we like Seoul': Young Koreans explain why they leave their hometowns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/its-not-that-we-like-seoul-young-koreans-explain-why-they-leave-their",
        "published": "2026-10-01T15:42:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}