Among men, the top reason cited for avoiding marriage was the financial burden of married life. Women, in contrast, most frequently pointed to the lack of suitable partners (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — A growing number of young South Koreans are choosing to forgo marriage due to financial strain and evolving personal values, according to a government-backed survey released Monday.
The 2nd National Population Behavior Survey, conducted in October 2024 by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association, revealed that 41.5% of unmarried men and 55.4% of unmarried women aged 20 to 44 have no intention of marrying or remain undecided. The findings highlight divergent concerns between genders, underscoring broader social shifts in one of the world’s fastest-aging societies.
Among men, the top reason cited for avoiding marriage was the financial burden of married life (25.4%), followed by a preference for singlehood (19.3%) and prioritizing career over marriage (12.9%).
Women, in contrast, most frequently pointed to the lack of suitable partners (19.5%), followed by similar preferences for singlehood (17.0%) and career (15.5%). Notably, 12.3% of women said they were averse to South Korea’s still-persistent patriarchal family norms, more than double the rate of men (2.9%).
The gender gap was particularly striking when it came to economic and cultural factors. Men cited financial strain and low income 13.8 and 7.2 percentage points more than women, respectively, while women cited patriarchal culture and career-related concerns 9.4 and 8.7 points more than men.
“The results show a clear trend of individuals prioritizing personal values and professional goals over traditional institutions like marriage,” the association said in a statement. “Men are deterred primarily by economic costs, while women emphasize the cultural and structural limitations they face in marriage.”
The average cost of getting married in South Korea now exceeds 300 million won. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Expectations around marriage roles also diverged. While 97.3% of unmarried men believed women should actively participate in childrearing and housework, only 86.6% of women agreed. Conversely, more women than men (by 6.5 percentage points) believed that a prospective husband should be able to provide upfront housing capital, such as a jeonse deposit.
Attitudes toward childbearing echoed similar reluctance. Some 41.6% of unmarried men and 59.1% of unmarried women said they either do not want children or remain undecided. The primary deterrents were the economic burden of childrearing (men 34.1%, women 23.2%) and fears that children would be unhappy (both around 23%).
Among married respondents, the desire for flexible work arrangements during childcare years was nearly universal—90.8% of men and 94.5% of women supported the idea. Men favored remote work (35.1%) while women leaned toward flexible hours (39.2%).
Social stigma around parenting in public also emerged, with 44.1% of married women and 27.8% of men reporting feeling unwelcome when accompanying young children to restaurants or cafes.
The survey reflects deepening challenges for South Korea as it grapples with record-low birth rates and evolving family structures, highlighting the urgency of policy reforms that align with shifting societal values.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
