Marriage Intention among Korean Young Adults: Trends and Influencing Factors

Abstract

The recent increase in the tendency of people to marry late or to opt out of marriage entirely is among the key contributors to Korea’s low fertility rate. One possible cause of this tendency may be a change in how marriage is valued among Korea’s youth. The marriage intentions of young adults can be classified into “positive”, “negative”, and “neutral”. Over time, positive marriage intentions have declined across all age groups (2010: 61% → 2020: 39%; ages 25–29), with no significant change in negative marriage intentions. In contrast, neutral marriage intentions have increased significantly (2010: 36% → 2020: 53%; ages 25–29). This phenomenon may be attributable to the increase in the number of young adults who prioritize survival over thinking about the future. However, neutral marriage values can be changed into positive values at any time. A holistic overview of Korean society is necessary to determine how the values of young adults might be influenced to align with a traditional life process.

Mediation Effects of Premarital Sexual Permissiveness on the Relationship Between Expectations for Marriage and Marital Intention of Vietnamese Undergraduate Students

“…Marriage intention is defined as people's possibility of really getting married based on their desires and requirements. 25 When considering each factor in individuals' expectations for marital relationship, this relationship is backed up by numerous researchers. Financial stability is an important requirement of couples/cohabitors for the marriage decision-making process.…”

“…24 Common marital expectations may involve trust, value systems, satisfaction, sexual intimacy, psychological support, respect, money, romance, commitment, faithfulness, communication, and procreation. 21,25 The financial side of marriage may have an impact on our decision to get married. Korean men over 25 who were not financially stable were more likely to stay single and have negative intention to marry.…”

“…Korean men over 25 who were not financially stable were more likely to stay single and have negative intention to marry. 25 For Korean women between the ages of 25 and 29, a household income of at least 6 million won enhanced the probability that they had positive instead of neutral marital intentions. 25 Communication is another potentially influential aspect of marriage.…”

“…25 For Korean women between the ages of 25 and 29, a household income of at least 6 million won enhanced the probability that they had positive instead of neutral marital intentions. 25 Communication is another potentially influential aspect of marriage. Communication aids couples in establishing positive interactions with others, fostering a comforting environment, and preventing improper behaviors.…”

“…In terms of marriage intentions, those who rated their lives as less satisfying and less healthy were more likely to belong to the neutral or negative groups than the positive group. 25 reasonable expectations about marriage, which can lead to a happy marriage, or unhealthy, misleading, unrealistic expectations, which can lead to a bad martial experience. 14…”