Korea has experienced rapid social changes in recent decades, including a major shift in attitudes around marriage and the preferred age to tie the knot. While traditionally Korean women married quite early, usually in their late teens or early 20s, that is no longer the norm today. An increasing number of Koreans are putting off marriage until their late 20s or 30s.
Changing Social Norms Around Marriage
In the past, there was immense social pressure in Korea for women to get married young. This was tied to long-held Confucian values that emphasized virtues like filial piety and upholding family lineage. Women were expected to marry and have children to continue the family name.
Arranged marriages were also common, with parents heavily involved in selecting a spouse for their son or daughter. Matchmakers mediated this process. Child marriage, though illegal, still occurred in rural areas up until the 1980s.
But over the last few decades, South Korea has rapidly modernized and urbanized. Social attitudes have shifted, especially among younger generations. Today’s Koreans value their independence and want more say in who and when they marry. Love matches are now the norm over arranged marriages.
Korea has also seen a major rise in women’s education levels and workforce participation. As more Korean women pursue careers, the expectation to wed early has weakened.
Later Marriage, Declining Birth Rates
Koreans are now marrying significantly later than in previous eras. The average age for first marriages is 33 years old for Korean men and 30 years old for women as of 2022.
This reflects a rising age at first marriage across all OECD nations, but Korea stands out for having one of the oldest average ages. For comparison, the average age is 31 for American men and 29 for women.
The proportion of South Koreans getting married is also declining. The crude marriage rate – or number of marriages per 1000 people – has fallen from 9.2 in 1970 to 5.2 in 2020.
Similarly, birth rates have plummeted in Korea to just 0.84 children born per woman. That is the lowest fertility rate globally.
These trends around later marriage and lower birth rates have alarmed the government. Officials fear it will accelerate an aging crisis where retirees outnumber workers.
Why Koreans Are Marrying Later
What explains the rising age of marriage in South Korea?
A major factor is the high costs of living and raising a family in Korea, especially in cities like Seoul. Between expensive housing, education costs, and living expenses, getting married is a big financial burden for young Koreans.
Most new couples live with parents initially to save up money. But even that is getting harder with tiny 1-2 bedroom apartments the norm in Seoul.
Getting a stable, decent-paying job is also taking longer. Youth unemployment is over 7% in Korea. Many young people work irregular contract jobs with low pay and little job security.
With marriage such a large investment, Koreans are waiting until their late 20s or 30s when their career and finances are on firmer ground.
Gender Imbalances in Marriage
Another intriguing trend is the rising imbalance of men and women getting married.
In 2020, the marriage rate was down to 42.4 marriages per 1000 men. But it was even lower for women at just 29.9 marriages per 1000 women.
This gap is linked to demographic shifts in Korea. Due to a traditional preference for sons, sex selection and gender-biased abortions were common from the 1980s to early 1990s.
As a result, far fewer girls were born than boys. There are over 300,000 more men than women ages 30-39 today.
With fewer Korean women in the marriage market, men are struggling more to find a spouse. International marriages are on the rise, particularly with women from China and Southeast Asia.
Share of Single Person Households
The decline in marriages is also evident in living arrangements.
In 2020, single-person households accounted for over 30% of household types in Korea, up from just 15.5% in 1980.
This reflects both later marriages as well as higher divorce rates. In 1980, there were just 20,000 divorces annually. By 2019, the number had climbed to 114,000.
| Year | Share of Single-Person Households |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 15.5% |
| 1990 | 18.6% |
| 2000 | 21.6% |
| 2010 | 27.2% |
| 2020 | 30.7% |
Government Efforts to Promote Marriage
Alarmed by the decline in marriages and births, the Korean government has introduced various policies to try incentivizing marriage and parenthood.
For instance, childcare subsidies have expanded dramatically. Parents can receive up to $200 per month for their first child’s daycare costs. This rises to $300/month for a second child.
There are also tax deductions for education expenses and medical costs. Newly married couples get low-interest mortgage loans.
Local governments organize mass weddings and matchmaking events. Some even provide cash gifts of a few thousand dollars to newlyweds.
Critics argue these efforts are outdated and fail to address core issues like high youth unemployment, work-life balance, gender inequality, and unequal divisions of childcare.
But the government hopes reducing financial burdens will at least remove barriers to marriage and childbearing.
Outlook on Marriage Age
Looking ahead, the average marriage age in Korea seems unlikely to fall. Social norms have changed, with early marriage no longer seen as essential.
anything, the costs and challenges facing young Koreans today will likely delay marriage further as couples wait for stability.
Still, Koreans are not abandoning marriage altogether. Most still aim to marry eventually. Surveys indicate the ideal age is late 20s to early 30s for women, and early-to-mid 30s for men.
International marriages are also rising rapidly, now comprising 10% of marriages in Korea. This provides an alternative for single Koreans struggling to find a domestic partner.
The trends around marriage in South Korea reflect profound demographic and social changes. While the government hopes to encourage earlier unions, Korean society has evolved to embrace later and often fewer marriages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Koreans today are getting married substantially later than past generations. The average age for first marriages is now 30 for Korean women and 33 for men, some of the oldest globally. Several factors drive this trend, including high living costs, increased education and workforce participation among women, high youth unemployment, and demographic imbalances between men and women due to skewed sex ratios at birth. These trends point to marriage ages staying high in the future. While the government promotes pro-natalist policies to incentivize earlier marriages and more children, social norms have clearly shifted toward later unions. International marriages are also rising as an alternative. The changes around marriage in Korea reflect its rapid modernization and persistent demographic challenges.