As real estate transactions have plummeted, the number of licensed real estate agents has continued to decline. The number of applicants for the qualification test is also on the decline as the popularity of licensed real estate agents, which were once spotlighted as preferred jobs after retirement, has declined.

According to the Korea Association of Certified Brokerage on the 29th, the number of licensed real estate agents nationwide stood at 112,678 as of the end of last month, down 365 from the end of September (113,043). The decline has continued for 20 months since February last year, when the number of licensed real estate agents slightly increased compared to the previous month. After surpassing 110,000 for the first time in September 2020, the number of licensed real estate agents peaked in June 2022 (118,952). Compared to that time, the number decreased by 6,274 (5.3%). Last month, the number of new licensed real estate agents opened nationwide increased by about 100 from September, but the increase in closures and closures was greater. In all 17 cities and provinces, closures and closures outpaced the number of new openings. From 2015 to 2022, the number of new openings per year was always higher than the number of closures and closures, but the reversal occurred for the first time last year.

The number of people trying for the real estate agent exam has also decreased. The number of test takers first topped 300,000 in 2017 before hitting 399,975 in 2021 during the property boom, approaching 400,000. This year, the number of applicants decreased by 46.2 percent compared to three years ago. [Reporter Son Dongwoo]