A recent analysis by the Bank of Korea and the OECD indicates a troubling increase in the 'inheritance of poverty', particularly among low-income youth in non-metropolitan regions. The study highlights how the impact of parental economic strength is more pronounced in terms of assets than income, suggesting that wealth transfer is becoming a larger barrier to economic mobility. The intergenerational economic power inheritance, represented by the 'income percentile slope' (RRS), is estimated at 0.25, meaning that if parents rise 10 ranks in income, their children only ascend an average of 2.5 ranks. In contrast, the 'asset percentile slope' is higher at 0.38, underscoring the growing significance of parental assets.

The trend of economic power inheritance has become more apparent in recent generations, with the income and asset slopes for children born in the 1980s showing considerable increases compared to those born in the 1970s. This reflects a decrease in social mobility and dynamism within society, further entrenching the cycle of wealth inheritance. The 'migration effect', where children move for job opportunities, generally improved income levels, yet the majority of adults remain in their hometowns, with half of them residing in the same city where they were born. Children migrating to different metropolitan areas experienced an average income percentile increase of 6.5%, while non-migrating children faced a 2.6% decline relative to their parents.

However, the migration effect varied significantly depending on the place of origin and destination. Those from the metropolitan area experienced upward income mobility with intra-metropolitan migration, while for those from non-metropolitan regions, moving to the metropolitan area provided the most substantial economic improvement. Conversely, movements within their own regional areas yielded the least benefits. The conclusion suggests that meaningful income improvement requires migration to the metropolitan area from non-metropolitan origins, highlighting the challenges faced by low-income families attempting to break the cycle of poverty without such movements.