Jakarta \u2014 CNBC Indonesia reports that public attitudes in South Korea\ntoward relationships and marriage are changing. Where couples living\ntogether before marriage were once seen as flouting social norms, more\nSouth Koreans now regard cohabitation as a reasonable and realistic step\nfor some couples.<\/p>\n
Embrain, a South Korean research firm, conducted a survey in March\ninvolving 1,050 single men and women aged 19 to 49 nationwide. The\nsurvey found that 79.4% of respondents said living together as part of\nmarriage preparation is acceptable.<\/p>\n
Many young Koreans now view living together before marriage as a way\nto test compatibility, including daily habits, patterns of\ncommunication, financial management, and approaches to conflict. They\nbelieve the lived experience can reduce the risk of divorce due to\nincompatibility after marriage.<\/p>\n
The survey shows rising support for the idea that \u201cliving together\nbefore marriage is wiser than rushing into marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Korea Times reports that approval for that statement has\ncontinued to rise, from 54.6% in 2018, to 62.7% in 2021, and 67.0% in\n2026.<\/p>\n
The form of cohabitation most socially accepted is \u201ccohabiting with\nthe intention to marry,\u201d supported by 60.9% of respondents, up from 55%\nin 2021 and down to 44.7% in 2026. Similarly, support for recognising\ncohabitation as a legitimate family form, akin to practices in some\nother countries, also declined\u201450.4% in 2021 and 44.9% in 2026.<\/p>\n
Although 74.8% agreed that society needs to be more accepting of\ndiverse family forms including unmarried couples and single parents,\nmany still believe that institutional recognition requires further\nsocial debate.<\/p>\n
However, South Korean society has not yet fully accepted the concept\nof cohabitation without marriage as a substitute for the formal family\ninstitution. Many still support marriage as the most ideal and stable\nform of relationship.<\/p>\n
Support for granting equal legal status to married and cohabiting\ncouples has declined in recent years. The phenomenon has also\ncontributed to rising births outside marriage in South Korea.<\/p>\n
According to the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and\nPopulation Policy, the share of births outside marriage approached 6% in\n2024. More than 80% of people in their 20s and 30s responded positively\ntoward cohabitation outside marriage.<\/p>\n
Experts forecast that both cohabitation and births outside marriage\nwill continue to rise in Korea. They argue that although social\nacceptance is increasing, lingering prejudices remain, so further\ndiscussion and policy reforms are needed, particularly regarding\nchildcare, legal protections, and support systems for children born\noutside wedlock.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/many-south-koreans-choose-to-cohabit-heres-why-1779531630", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }