Sayuri’s decision to move to Japan highlights the challenges of single motherhood and non-marital childbirth in South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Public acceptance of non-marital childbirth is steadily rising among young South Koreans, with women in their 20s and 30s showing the sharpest increases in approval, according to a new study commissioned by the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy.
The research, conducted by the Korean Women’s Development Institute, analyzed data from Statistics Korea and revealed a consistent upward trend in support for childbirth outside of marriage over the past decade and a half.
Among 20-somethings, male support for non-marital childbirth rose from 32.4% in 2008 to 43.1% in 2024, while support among women surged from 28.4% to 42.4%, marking a 14-percentage-point increase for women—larger than the 10.7-point rise among men.
In the 30s age group, men’s support grew from 28.7% to 43.3%, and women’s from 23.9% to 40.7%, with women again showing a slightly steeper increase.
The study also found that approval of cohabitation without marriage is now widespread. Among 20-somethings, male support rose from 67.2% to 81.1%, while female support jumped more dramatically from 55.6% to 81.0%. A similar pattern was observed in the 30-something group.
Despite the growing acceptance, South Korea’s non-marital birth rate remains low—at just 4.7% in 2024, up from 3.9% the previous year. This is far below the OECD average of 41.0%, but officials say changing perceptions may open doors for policy innovation.
First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Ki-il suggested that non-marital childbirth could be a viable strategy to address Korea’s record-low birthrate, which stood at 0.75 births per woman in 2024.
“There is a growing sense among women that avoiding the traditional burdens of marriage and in-laws may offer greater autonomy,” Lee said. “We should focus on increasing births, regardless of the format, and consider expanding support mechanisms—such as inheritance rights and tax benefits—for non-marital families.”
The government is currently exploring legal and policy reforms that would recognize and support diverse family structures in its broader efforts to combat population decline.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
