Koreans marry later due to intense educational and career competition, high housing costs making family formation difficult, changing priorities towards personal fulfillment, and persistent traditional expectations clashing with modern realities, leading many to delay or opt out of marriage for financial stability and career advancement, especially women.
Current practice. As of 2020, according to Statistics Korea, the average age of first marriage is 33.2 for men and 30.8 for women. In a large number of marriages, the male is older than the female. This age disparity is usually intentional.
South Korea's 52-hour work rule caps most employees' weekly working hours at 52, consisting of 40 standard hours plus 12 allowed overtime hours, aiming to reduce overwork, improve work-life balance, and boost productivity by ending excessively long workweeks previously common in the country. Implemented in phases for different company sizes, this law applies to a seven-day week, including weekends, and was a major revision to the Labor Standards Act, phasing in from 2018 to 2021 for most businesses.
Weddings in Korea are very short for the guests. Some people say that it's too short, but I am glad that it was not longer or shorter. The wedding ceremony itself was only 30 minutes, and it was about 2.5 hours for guests who came early and stayed until the end for the photos, ceremony,…
In Korea, between lovers who planned marriage and recognized it by parents, it's okay. If you ask about a couple who don't decide to marry yet, the ratio of people who keep virginity before marriage are much more in Korea than Japan.
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating refers to the common practice of deciding whether to become an official couple after the third date, moving quickly from casual "talking" (sseom) to an exclusive relationship, a faster pace than many Western cultures where dating remains casual for longer. It's an unwritten guideline where the first dates assess compatibility, and by the third, couples often establish commitment, sometimes with "couple items" or frequent communication. While still influential, younger generations (Gen Z) are sometimes moving away from this rigid timeline.
The Youth Protection Revision Act, commonly known as the Shutdown Law or Cinderella Law, was an act of the South Korean National Assembly which forbade children under the age of sixteen to play video games between the hours of 00:00 and 06:00.
Wives usually handle the family finances and are in charge of raising the children. But otherwise they have a lot of time on their hands. After their children and husbands leave the house, often until late at night, housewives fill their days by hiking, swimming, taking music lessons and meeting their friends.
Divorce Rate in Asia
The divorce rates published in the World Population Report are the following: Korea – 1.8. China – 2.0. Japan – 1.5.
In 2024, South Korea set another demographic record, with women marrying for the first time at a historic high average age of 31.6, while men did so at an average age of 33.9.
4B movement, South Korean feminist activist movement and political stance defined by four deliberate refusals: bihon (“no marriage”), bichulsan (“no childbirth”), biyonae (“no dating”), bisekseu (“no sex [with men]”).
According to data from Statistics Korea on Monday, people in the country slept an average of eight hours and four minutes every night last year — some eight minutes less than in 2019, when the previous survey took place.
South Korean law prohibits political activities by foreigners. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can lead to significant disruptions to traffic and public transportation.
As for who pays for a Korean wedding, historically the groom's family would cover the main expenses while the bride's family would pay for her traditional Korean wedding dress. However, many modern couples don't adhere to this breakdown and instead opt to split the costs.
Why Younger Generations Are Getting Married Later in Life
Love matches are no longer frowned upon, but arranged marriages are still more common. Couples and their parents have formal meetings infancy tearooms to size each other up, and some go through dozens of these meetings before finding a partner.
Women initiate the majority of divorces, with studies showing they file in around 70% of cases, a rate that increases to about 90% for college-educated women, according to research from the American Sociological Association (ASA). This trend highlights that women often bear the emotional burden, experience unmet needs, and have greater financial independence, making them more likely to seek divorce when dissatisfied with the relationship.
Marriage is a sacred institution in Asian communities and divorce the eighth deadly sin. Women have it particularly hard — seen as failing not only their partners and children, but also their extended families and reputations. The impenetrable patriarchy hurls most blame on the wife as their domain is the home.
Explanations for the substantial decline in rates of marriage in East Asian countries often emphasize the role of rapid educational expansion for women in reducing the desirability of marriages characterized by a strong gender-based division of labor.
“Traditionally, the red spots are meant to ward off evil spirits,” Ahn says, cheekily adding that she uses Avery stickers applied directly to the cheeks on her brides. “But for us modern Korean women, having the red dots on the cheeks more represents a youthfulness and playfulness.
Don't stick chopsticks in your rice bowl, as this is a funeral ritual. Avoid talking loudly: Be courteous and don't speak loudly in public transportation. Bow when greeting someone: Use open-hand gestures for pointing, and bow when greeting someone.
12 (Xinhua) -- Almost seven out of 10 South Koreans said couples can live together without marriage, while nearly four in 10 replied that couples can have a baby out of wedlock, a statistical office survey showed Tuesday.
South Koreans consider it a personal violation to be touched by someone who is not a relative or close friend. Touching, patting, or back slapping is to be avoided during interactions. In addition, direct eye contact between juniors and seniors should be avoided because it is seen as impolite or even a challenge.
September 2020) Ureongi gaksi (Korean: 우렁이 각시, The Snail Bride) is a Korean folktale about a poor man who breaks taboo and marries a maiden who comes out of a snail shell until he loses his snail bride when a magistrate kidnaps her.
Here are some of the K-pop idols who are fitting the Korean beauty standards: