Seoul home sale price growth slowed to 0.97% in August, the first deceleration in five months, as a tax reform package affecting owners of high-value homes and holders of a single non-residential property prompted localized declines in Gangnam. Yet strength in outer districts, led by Seongbuk and Nowon, pushed Seoul’s median home sale price above 800 million won for the first time. The Korea Real Estate Board said Seoul’s composite sales index rose 0.97% month over month, down from 1.09% in July after four straight monthly accelerations. Gangnam-gu fell 0.18%, Seocho-gu slipped 0.01% and Songpa-gu slowed to 0.68%, while Seongbuk and Nowon rose 1.83% and 1.77%. Seoul apartment prices gained 1.05%, and nationwide composite sale prices rose 0.32%. Rental growth also cooled: Seoul jeonse rose 0.83% and monthly rents 0.82%. Seoul’s median sale price reached 805,918,000 won, while its average sale price was 1,029,740,000 won. Earlier Zigbang transaction data showed Gwangmyeong’s median apartment price per square meter reaching 12.97 million won in August, or 102% of Seoul’s 12.68 million won median, although those figures remained subject to revision because August reporting was incomplete.