Signal Innovation-city inflows came mainly from neighbouring provinces rather than the capital region

Summary

Across most innovation cities, the great majority of newcomers moved only a short distance from neighbouring provinces, and net inflows from the capital region fell well short of expectations. In 2024, for example, Busan's innovation city drew 13,504 people from nearby provinces against 6,983 from the capital region, roughly double, while Daegu's ratio was 9,014 to 3,310, about 2.7 times. Earlier research cited by the report found that more than half of newcomers to the Jeonbuk, Gangwon and Gyeongbuk innovation cities came from surrounding areas, at 71.6, 58.7 and 54.2 percent respectively. After the relocations were completed, net migration toward the capital region reappeared. The report concludes from two decades of data that the first wave mostly rearranged population within regions and did not meaningfully disperse the capital region.