Seoul: In a noteworthy shift, the number of marriages in South Korea experienced a rise in 2023, marking the first increase in over a decade. This surge was fueled by pent-up demand from couples who had deferred their nuptials during the pandemic. However, while this uptick offers a glimmer of hope, it doesn’t necessarily signal a sustained recovery in a nation grappling with rapid aging.
Despite this slight increase in marriages, South Korea’s fertility rate, already the world’s lowest, continued its alarming descent in 2023. Concerns about career advancement and the financial burdens of raising children led many women to postpone childbirth or opt out of having babies altogether.
Statistics Korea revealed that a total of 193,657 couples tied the knot in 2023, marking a 1.0% increase from the 191,690 marriages recorded the previous year. This uptick contrasts with a marginal 0.4% drop in 2022, a year when South Korea began easing social gathering restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions had precipitated a significant decline in marriages, with a staggering 9.8% decrease in 2021 and a further 10.7% decline in 2020. Despite the positive shift in 2023, the number of marriages remains notably lower than the 239,159 unions observed in 2019, and significantly below the annual figure of over 320,000 recorded a decade ago.
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Marriage Surge: Late 2022 Sees Sharp Increase in Nuptials
According to a government official, the surge in marriages during the latter half of 2022 and the initial months of 2023 can be attributed to couples who had deferred their plans due to the pandemic. However, this momentum waned in the latter half of 2023, indicating that most individuals who had postponed marriage due to COVID-19 have now proceeded with their plans.
Interestingly, while South Korea witnessed a modest increase in marriages, neighboring China experienced a more significant surge, with marriages rising by 12.4% in 2023. This spike in China was attributed to numerous couples finally tying the knot after pandemic-related delays.
High housing costs stand as a major deterrent to marriage in South Korea, with many considering marriage a prerequisite for starting a family in the country. A recent survey of 500 South Koreans aged between 19 to 23 revealed that 50.4% of respondents expressed no intentions of getting married or having children, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
In response to the concerning decline in birth rates, the government has pledged to implement “extraordinary measures.” Political parties have promised initiatives such as public housing and easier loans for young South Koreans in the lead-up to the April legislative election, aiming to address the challenges posed by low birth rates.
