Some 71.2 percent of women showed a negative inclination towards childbirth. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Half of South Koreans in their 20s feel strongly that they do not want to or will not get married.
According to an online survey of a total of 1,000 unmarried men and women in their 20s by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association, 47.3 percent were opposed to the idea of marriage, with 39.3 percent saying they ‘do not want to get married’, and 8 percent saying they ‘will never get married’.
Among the 47.3 percent, 57 percent were women, 19.4 percentage points higher than men, who accounted for 37.6 percent. One in 10 women, or 10.6 percent, said they would never marry, nearly doubling the 5.4 percent for men.
When asked why the respondents were negative towards the concept of marriage, 30.5 percent said they ‘hate the culture of gender inequality, including the patriarchal system’, and 29.1 percent said they were ‘happy to live alone’.
Some 43.1 percent of male respondents cited ‘happy living alone’, while 16.5 percent cited ‘an unfortunate circumstance where they have to live alone’.
Currently, 36.6 percent of unmarried people in their 20s are in a relationship, less than four in 10 people.
Among the reasons for not dating, 26.9 percent chose ‘not feeling the need to have a relationship,’ 25.3 percent cited ‘not having to find a true love,’ and 22.3 percent listed ‘not having enough time and financial leeway.’
Furthermore, when asked about their intention to have children in the future, six out of 10 unmarried men and women in their 20s, or 56.9 percent, said they did not want to have children.
Some 71.2 percent of women showed a negative inclination towards childbirth, which compares with 42.6 percent of men.
As for the reason, 36.4 percent said that ‘society is not suitable for raising children,’ followed by 24.1 percent who said they were worried about whether they will be able to raise a child well.
“The young generation is changing values for love, marriage, children and families, and they still feel society cannot keep up with the changed trends and values,” said Shin Eon-hang, chairman of the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
