Koreans Most Eager to Marry, Yet Also Rank Highest in Concerns Over Economic Burden and Career Interruption

Koreans have the strongest desire to marry compared to people in other countries, but simultaneously, they also express the highest levels of concern regarding living expenses and the risk of job loss. According to the report 'Case Studies of Foreign Population Policy' published by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, among respondents not currently in legal marital relationships, the proportion expressing an intention to marry was 52.9% in South Korea, a higher figure than in Japan (32.0%), France (38.2%), Germany (46.5%), and Sweden (50.2%).

The percentage of respondents who indicated that family economic conditions are very important when deciding on marriage and childbirth was highest in Korea among the surveyed countries, at 62.5%. The proportion stating that their own employment status is very important was 51.6% in Korea, surpassing Japan (34.0%), France (38.8%), Germany (30.3%), and Sweden (34.7%). The percentage of respondents who consider a spouse's employment status important was 47.8%, and the response that housing conditions are very important was 46.6%. The proportion recognizing the possibility of career interruption as significant was surveyed higher in Korea at 30.4% compared to Japan (12.5%), France (21.8%), Germany (22.0%), and Sweden (16.0%).

In Korea, 37.4% of respondents fully agreed with the statement that economic burdens increase due to childbirth and childcare. The response advocating for a substantial increase in national financial support budgets for childbirth and childcare was 51.7% in Korea, the highest rate among comparable countries including Japan (34.2%), France (25.9%), Germany (41.0%), and Sweden (30.8%).