Nearly three-quarters of women in their 20s and 30s on South Korea’s Jeju Island view lifelong singlehood positively. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
JEJU, Jul. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – A new study reveals that nearly three-quarters of women in their 20s and 30s on South Korea’s Jeju Island view lifelong singlehood positively, highlighting shifting attitudes towards marriage among the younger generation.
The research, conducted by a group of Jeju Provincial Council members called “Happy Youth in Jeju,” surveyed 418 Jeju residents aged 20-39, including 215 men and 203 women. The findings, released on July 25, offer insights into changing perceptions of marriage and childbirth among the island’s youth.
A striking 73.4% of female respondents expressed a positive attitude towards remaining unmarried throughout their lives. In contrast, 45.1% of male respondents shared this view. Overall, 58.9% of those surveyed agreed that “it’s okay to live alone without ever getting married,” while 41.1% disagreed.
The study also probed into the reasons behind the reluctance to marry. Economic factors, particularly low income, emerged as the primary deterrent. Many respondents indicated they would consider marriage only after achieving financial stability through employment and accumulating sufficient funds.
Interestingly, there’s a discrepancy between the ideal and planned marriage ages, especially among women. While female respondents cited 30.4 years as the ideal age for marriage, they planned to marry at 32.4 years on average. Men showed less disparity, with ideal and planned ages at 32.1 and 32.6 years, respectively.
Despite the growing acceptance of singlehood, attitudes towards having children remain largely positive. While 59.6% of respondents favored having children, only 9.6% preferred not to have any. The average ideal number of children was reported as 1.88.
The survey also gauged opinions on marriage support policies. Expanded housing support for young adults (89%) and newlyweds (91.1%) emerged as the most desired forms of assistance.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
