The population of Seoul is expected to fall below 10 million by the end of this year as residents move out into the suburbs where property is more affordable.

The city's population first surpassed the 10-million mark in 1988, but the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Tuesday it is expected to fall below either at the end of this year or during the first half of 2020.

It currently stands at 10.05 million. In 1953, just after the Korean War, it was only 1.01 million but reached five million in 1970 and peaked at 11 million in 1992.

