The third plan to deal with a chronically low birthrate and aging society issued by the government sees delayed marriage as one of the main causes of low rates of childbirth, and concentrates on providing solutions to establish ‘good conditions to get married’. (Image : Kobizmedia / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – The third plan to deal with a chronically low birthrate and aging society issued by the government sees delayed marriage as one of the main causes of low rates of childbirth, and concentrates on providing solutions to establish ‘good conditions to get married’.
The government will encourage companies and public institutions to participate and fix up group dates. Men and women will naturally have a chance to meet people while participating in various activities such as volunteer work or cultural programs. (Image : Yonhap)
As a first step, the government plans to establish a program to provide single men and women with chances to meet someone. The government will encourage companies and public institutions to participate and fix up group dates. Men and women will naturally have a chance to meet people while participating in various activities such as volunteer work or cultural programs.
As the high costs of marriage were also pointed out as a factor that makes young people want to avoid getting married, the government also planned to strongly advertise ‘small weddings’.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, the average cost of a marriage (excluding housing costs) was 54,140,000 won for men and 47,840,000 won for women, exceeding 100 million won per couple. The government plans to provide information about small weddings and establish a task force to crack down on unfair practices by wedding businesses.
The government plans to provide information about small weddings and establish a task force to crack down on unfair practices by wedding businesses. (Image : Yonhap)
In addition, the government plans to increase tax benefits given to the married, having decided that the tax burden gap is smaller between singles and the married compared to other OECD members.
In the meantime, under the purpose of supporting various types of families that have children, special laws that reduce the discrimination of couples living together without getting married will be prosecuted. Intentions are to solve any kind of human rights violations towards children from families that are beyond the typical family that is made based on marriage.
By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)
