The proportion of people who moved house last year was the lowest in 38 years amid a sluggish housing market.

Statistics Korea on Monday said 14.9 percent of the population moved house in 2012, the lowest figure since 15.3 percent in 1974.

Mobility was nearly 20 percent in the early 2000s, when housing prices skyrocketed, but dropped to 17 percent in 2008, when the boom ended, and below 15 percent last year.

Population mobility is directly related to real estate prices. When prices are expected to rise, people resort to whatever possible means to buy a house. On the other hand, when housing prices fall, people stay put and wait for things to improve.

A Statistics Korea official said, "In 2012, there were 260,000 fewer transactions in the property market than 2011."

Population aging is also a factor. When the proportion of young people who find job, go on to university and get married is high, there is greater population mobility. But last year, the population of those in their 20s and 30s was 2.27 million less than 10 years ago, while the population of over-60s increased by 2.53 million.