Seoul's private apartment pre-sale prices rose above 80.07 million won per pyeong for the first time in July, lifting the average price of an exclusive 59-square-meter unit to 1.56257 billion won and the widely watched 84-square-meter layout to 1.90972 billion won. The city's exclusive-area price climbed 24.16% from a year earlier, far ahead of the national 9.59% gain, while the national average also set a record at 8.64 million won per square meter after three straight monthly increases since April. RealHouse said the widening gap is intensifying the housing cost burden, and a proposed tax reform that would differentiate holding tax burdens based on actual residence may make move-in and occupancy plans a more important factor in subscription decisions.