In 2024, the divorce rate in South Korea was *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants, similar to the previous year. The divorce rate peaked in 2003 at about *** divorces per 1,000 people and has declined since then. Cultural perception of divorce Traditionally, divorce was viewed negatively in South Korea due to the influence of a patriarchal society that valued traditional family structures and roles. However, as more women enter the workforce and women's rights progress, Korean society has seen a greater acceptance of divorce in recent years. Many people now view it as a viable option for those seeking personal happiness. Decline in marriages During the same period, the number of marriages across the nation has decreased. This is especially noticeable due to the changing perception of marriage among South Korean women, who place less importance on marriage than previous generations. A survey identified financial constraints and a decreased desire for marriage as the most important reasons for avoiding marriage.

In 2024, there were 91,151 divorces in South Korea, showing a slight decrease compared to the previous year. That year, the number of marriages in South Korea amounted to more than 193,000.

In 2024, the divorce rate of South Korean women aged 40 to 44 years was eight divorces per 1,000 women, which was the highest figure among all age groups. That year, the divorce rate in South Korea was *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants.

In 2024, the divorce rate of South Korean men aged 45 to 49 years was *** divorces per 1,000 men, which was the highest figure among all age groups. That year, the divorce rate in South Korea was *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants.

In 2024, the divorce rate in South Korea was highest for marriages of up to nine years length. The divorce rate tends to decrease over the years from there, but again increases for long term marriages of **+ years.

According to a study conducted in South Korea in 2024, around ** percent of respondents aged 60 years and older stated that people should avoid divorce. **** percent thought it was fine to divorce if there was a reason for it, while almost ** percent were neutral on the matter.

In 2024, the average age of divorce for South Korean women was **** years, while for South Korean men it was **** years. The average age at divorce of both female and male South Koreans remained similar compared to the last year.

As of 2024, the divorce rate in China decreased to *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants. Before 2020, this number had been constantly increasing since 2002. Divorce rate in Asian countries The divorce rate in China soared from around **** divorces per 1,000 people in 2000 to **** divorces in 2019. This is a quite high value compared to the divorce rate of countries in the Asia Pacific region. However, China shares the fate of a growing divorce rate with many other developing countries, while in most developed countries, the number of divorces per 1,000 inhabitants is either stable or falling. For example, the divorce rate in Singapore has been manly stable at *** divorces per 1,000 inhabitants in the last ten years and the divorce rate in South Korea has fallen from *** in 2009 to *** in 2024. In comparison, the U.S. divorce rate has been falling since 1992 from *** divorces per 1,000 people to *** divorces in 2022. Dating scene in China For the younger generations, dating and marriage happens (if at all) at a much later life stage compared to their parents. The fact that China has the highest working hours in the region does not ease the dire situation for singles in China, most of them being employed as professionals or employed in the media sector, where long working hours and high work pressure are quite common.

In 2024, the number of marriages in South Korea reached *******. The trend of shunning marriage has been particularly noticeable in recent years, with the number of marriages drastically decreasing by over ** percent compared to ten years ago. Changing perceptions of marriage An increasing number of people in South Korea, particularly women, are choosing not to get married. According to a survey, only around ** percent of women saw marriage as a necessity, compared to almost ** percent of men. The most common reasons for not getting married were lacking financial resources and simply not seeing the need for it. Demographic challenges With more people remaining single and not having children, the birth rate in South Korea has dropped to the lowest in the world, reaching a record low of **** births per woman in 2023. The government has tried to tackle the problem of population decline and aging through various measures, but so far, with little success.

In 2016, crude divorce rates were highest in Kazakhstan which was estimated at around ***** divorces per thousand people. Crude divorce rates were highest in Korea and Australia in year 2000, each amounting to around 2.6 divorces per thousand people.

In 2024, the average wedding cost in South Korea amounted to around ***** million South Korean won. Housing prices accounted for the vast majority of wedding costs. It was followed by household goods and venue costs. Wedding trends in South Korea Couples who are contemplating saying “yes” to their wedding vows also have to take into consideration the preparations for a wedding. The overall costs for a wedding would include the honeymoon, the wedding package, and the wedding venue. A wedding package would consist of the pre-wedding studio photography, as well as the dress and makeup for the occasion. However, statistics show that the number of marriages have declined. For men, the main reason for not getting married is that they could not afford the wedding costs, while women saw no need to get married anymore. Divorces in South Korea As beautiful as weddings can be, if conflicts arise during a marriage, divorce can always be an option. In South Korea, the number of divorces decreased in recent years. The reason for that might be the equally decreasing number of marriages. The marriage duration before a divorce was frequently among married couples either up to four years after the wedding or after 30 years of being together. Even though it has become more socially acceptable not to marry or leave a marriage in South Korea, a significant percentage of the older generation still think that people their age should not divorce, even though there might be a valid reason to do so.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea during July 2021, around **** percent of respondents replied that it is good to marry someone from a similar socioeconomic environment if possible. A significant portion of the respondents also replied that they would consider divorce if differences with their partner were to be found after marriage.

In 2024, the average age at which South Korean women married for the first time was 31.55 years, while for men, it was 33.86 years. The average age of both men and women marrying for the first time in South Korea has steadily increased in recent years. Shifting attitudes towards marriage The number of marriages in South Korea has been consistently declining. While the overall decrease in population may play a role, the most significant factor is the societal shift in the perception of marriage. According to a survey, nearly half of South Koreans consider marriage an option rather than a necessity. Some of the main reasons South Koreans choose to remain unmarried include concerns about raising children, high wedding expenses, and worries about their careers. Demographic implications As more South Koreans choose to marry later in life or not at all, this trend significantly impacts the country's demographic landscape. The declining birth rate and increasing life expectancy present challenges for the country's future, particularly regarding economic productivity and growth.