A majority of South Korean parents believe they bear responsibility for their adult children’s successes and failures. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A majority of South Korean parents believe they bear responsibility for their adult children’s successes and failures, reflecting the enduring grip of familial duty in a society navigating intergenerational shifts in wealth, education, and independence.
According to a 2024 study released Wednesday by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, 66.9% of Korean parents aged 45 to 69 with children between 19 and 34 agreed that they are accountable for how well their children fare in life.
The survey of 1,600 parents revealed nuanced variations across demographics. Men (68.5%) were slightly more likely than women (65.5%) to feel responsible. Agreement was strongest among those aged 55–59 (70.1%) and parents with a university education or higher (73.6%). The sense of responsibility also tended to rise in tandem with household wealth.
“These findings suggest that parental responsibility is not purely a moral stance,” researchers noted. “Rather, they reflect widespread recognition—across gender, age, and socioeconomic status—that parental support and upbringing play a direct role in shaping a child’s outcomes.”
A study reflects the enduring grip of familial duty in a society navigating intergenerational shifts in wealth, education, and independence. (Image created by AI/ChatGPT)
Independence in Theory, Support in Practice
While most parents expressed a preference for maintaining independent relationships with their adult children, the reality suggests a more complex, support-driven dynamic.
More than three-quarters of respondents (76.2%) said parents and adult children should ideally be independent of each other. Only 13% supported mutual dependence as a desirable model, and even fewer viewed one-sided support—whether from parent to child (7.4%) or child to parent (3.4%)—as ideal.
Yet when asked about specific types of financial assistance, a large majority of parents voiced strong willingness to provide support:
- University tuition: 83.9%
- Marriage expenses: 70.1%
- Living costs until employment: 62.9%
- Home purchase support: 61.7%
- Continued support as long as financially able: 42.1%
Young adults largely echoed these views. In a parallel survey of 1,000 Koreans aged 19 to 34, 68.4% agreed that parents should cover college tuition, and 62.2% supported parental support for living expenses until economic independence. More than half also saw parental help with marriage and home-buying costs as appropriate.
Even after entering the workforce, 46.3% of young respondents believed parents should continue helping financially if they have the means.
Intergenerational Support Remains the Norm
The findings underscore a cultural paradox: while independence is cited as the ideal, both generations tacitly endorse—and often rely on—ongoing familial support. The trend comes as South Korea faces widening economic inequality, soaring housing prices, and delayed life milestones among young adults.
As the nation enters 2026 with persistent concerns over social mobility and demographic stagnation, the study raises pressing questions about how deeply rooted expectations around family roles will shape economic behavior, educational attainment, and the next generation’s path to adulthood.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
