South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revised final 2025 nationwide housing completions to 300,000 units from the 342,000-unit total reported in monthly preliminary figures, attributing the 42,000-unit difference to duplicate administrative records, including provisional usage approvals. The revised method uses the initial usage approval date. In August 2026, Seoul housing permits surged 604.4% year on year to 11,306 units, including a 938.1% increase in apartment permits to 10,537 units. Cumulative permits for January through August reached 39,940 units, or 106% of the 2016-2025 average for the period, and the ministry said the annual total could exceed the long-term average of 63,000 units if the pace continues. Construction starts also increased, with Seoul’s January-August total rising 41.1% to 20,679 units. The ministry attributed the improvement to eased construction rules, financial and tax support, expanded agreements to purchase newly built homes, and faster local permitting. It said completions could exceed the long-term average from 2028 if permitted projects proceed without disruption. However, nationwide completions fell 27.2% year on year to 150,664 units through August, while unsold homes rose to 69,134 units and nationwide home sales declined 23.5% in August.