The landscape of marriage and childbearing in South Korea has undergone a significant transformation, a new survey released on March 17 has shown. Findings reveal a striking reluctance among the adult population to tie the knot or raise children, stirring concerns over the country’s already plummeting birth rates.
A survey comprising 1,059 unmarried individuals aged 19 to 49, indicated that only 51.7% envisaged marriage in their future. Notably, men demonstrated a greater proclivity towards marriage (56.3%) than women (47.2%), with the 30 to 34 age bracket displaying the highest willingness at 58.7%. However, the inclination to marry waned for those aged 35 and above.
When it came to childbearing, the reticence was more pronounced, with 46% of participants rejecting the notion of having children, and merely 28.3% in favor. Among those already married, only a fraction (46.5%) were contemplating parenthood, and a significant majority of current parents (76.1%) had ruled out the possibility of additional offspring.
The grim state of South Korea’s fertility is not just a personal preference but recognized as a societal issue by an overwhelming 93.9% of respondents, who attributed the problem to difficulties in balancing work with childcare. Supporting this sentiment is another report from the Korean Women’s Development Institute (KWDI) which underscored the disproportionate childcare burden borne by women, even in dual-income households.
In a decadal comparison, the number of marriages in South Korea plummeted by 40%, from 322,807 in 2013 to 193,673 in 2023, according to data from the December 2023 Population Trends Survey by Statistics Korea. The survey also observed a stark dip in second births and an overall trend of diminishing fertility, with the total fertility rate in 2023 collapsing to a record low of 0.72.
The financial burden, encompassing the costs of wedding arrangements and housing, emerges as the chief barrier deterring many young South Koreans from matrimonial commitments. Attitudes towards marriage have also seen a downturn, with only one-third of young adults viewing it positively in 2022, a stark contrast to the over half who did so in 2012.
These findings are echoed in another government report that highlighted a sharp decline in positive perceptions of marriage among 19 to 34-year-olds, which sank from 56.5% in 2012 to 36.4% in recent times. Economic pressures, such as unaffordable housing and rising living costs, contribute heavily to this trend.
Moreover, a study focusing on college students in South Korea revealed gender differences in childbirth willingness, fertility knowledge, and the value attached to motherhood or fatherhood. Female students were less inclined towards future childbirth than male students and placed a significantly lower value on motherhood compared to the value men placed on fatherhood.
The reluctance to embrace marriage and parenthood is not restricted to unwed individuals. The notion of single parenting is gradually gaining acceptance, with nearly 40% of respondents affirming they could have a child without marriage, defying traditional norms.
Authorities face an uphill battle to avert a looming demographic crisis, with experts urging the need for a shift in societal attitudes and policies. Despite more than $200 billion spent over 16 years to bolster the birth rate, the efforts have had little impact.
Relevant articles:
– Only half of South Koreans willing to marry; even less want kids
– South Korean marriages crash 40% in just 10 years, The Independent, Tue, 05 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT
– Only one third of young South Koreans feel positively about marriage, survey finds, CNN, Tue, 29 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT
– Gender differences in willingness for childbirth, fertility knowledge, and value of motherhood or fatherhood and their associations among college students in South Korea, 2021, Archives of Public Health, Fri, 16 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT