Public attitudes in South Korea toward poverty remain divided, with most respondents attributing it to a lack of individual effort. The 2025 Korean Welfare Panel Study, conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and Seoul National University Social Welfare Research Institute, found that 89.6 percent of 2,661 respondents cited insufficient motivation and effort as the main cause. Low-income families highlight structural barriers, but the overall view emphasizes personal responsibility.
A survey released on March 3, 2026, reveals that among 2,661 Koreans surveyed in the 2025 Korean Welfare Panel Study, 89.6 percent identified insufficient motivation and effort as the primary cause of poverty. Additionally, 88.3 percent pointed to a lack of frugality or poor household financial management, with percentages exceeding 100 percent due to multiple selections allowed. Only 62.8 percent attributed poverty to inborn ability or talent, and just 12 percent considered it a 'very important' factor, showing that poverty is seldom viewed as predetermined.
The perception varies by income level. In middle- and high-income households, 90.2 percent saw personal effort as central to poverty, compared to 85.5 percent in low-income households. The proportion rating effort as 'very important' fell from 37.8 percent overall to 27.9 percent among low-income respondents, while views on frugality dropped from 40.0 percent to 30.3 percent.
Experts caution that this focus on individual responsibility may act as a secondary punishment for those in hardship. Labeling poverty as resulting from laziness or weak will could isolate low-income Koreans, erode their self-worth, and undermine social cohesion. They stress that addressing poverty requires supporting personal initiative with robust safety nets and structural reforms to prevent barriers beyond individuals' control from hindering efforts.