30.4 percent of South Koreans said it was acceptable for a couple to live together without a promise of marriage. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – In a sign of a shift away from a once highly conservative society, more Koreans are growing comfortable with the idea of divorce, and living together before tying the knot.
Researchers from the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, Seoul National University (Institute for Social Development and Policy Research), and Sungkyunkwan University (Survey Research Center) conducted a study last year on 476 male and 576 female adults which revealed that 30.4 percent of South Koreans said it was acceptable for a couple to live together without a promise of marriage.
The figure was an 8.7 percent increase from 2006, at 21.7 percent, researchers said, adding that men were slightly more comfortable with the idea at 31.5 percent compared to 29.4 percent for women.
In terms of age group, the rate was 38.7 percent for those aged 18 to 29, 48.9 percent for 30-somethings, 34.7 percent for 40-somethings, 26 percent for 50-somethings, and 16.1 percent for those 60 and above.
Similarly, those approving of divorce in struggling marriage relationships rose by 8.9 percent over the past decade, from 37.3 percent to 46.2 percent, while those opposing the idea dropped by 12.9 percent, from 47.7 percent to 34.8 percent.
Similar percentages were observed this year for both genders at 45.8 percent for men and 46.6 percent for women, and the rates were 45.9 percent for 20-somethings (from 18), 53.5 percent for 30-somethings, 49.4 percent for 40-somethings, 53.7 percent for 50-somethings, and 37.2 percent for those 60 and above.
By Joseph Shin (jss539@koreabizwire.com)
