Car Purchase Rate Among South Koreans in Their 20s and 30s Hits Decade Low

According to the latest data from the Korea Automobile Data Research Institute, new vehicle registrations among South Koreans in their 20s reached 61,962 units in 2025, accounting for 5.6% of the nation’s total new vehicle registrations—down steadily from 8.8% in 2016 and marking a ten-year low. Meanwhile, new registrations among those in their 30s totaled 209,749 units, representing 19% of the national total, a decline of 6.9 percentage points from a decade ago and also the lowest level in ten years. Industry insiders attribute the declining willingness of younger consumers to purchase cars primarily to intensifying economic pressures and the growing popularity of mobile app-based car rental services.