Signal Education has become a rising motive for young people moving to innovation cities

Summary

Among people in their twenties moving to the Gyeongnam innovation city, the share citing education jumped from 4.2 percent in 2005 to 21.0 percent in 2024. Across most innovation cities, young movers increasingly cite jobs and education and less often housing, and by 2024 links between study and employment had become the main draw for this age group. Gangwon, Gyeongbuk and Jeju show relatively high education shares, and in Gyeongbuk education accounted for 22.6 percent of moves by those aged under twenty in 2024, the highest level recorded. In Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk, education also weighs heavily among movers from neighbouring provinces, suggesting local educational infrastructure influences nearby residents' decisions. The report infers that university, vocational training and job-placement links could be important tools for anchoring young residents.