New Study Reveals Gen Z In Korea Is Afraid Of Getting Married And Having Children, Why?

Illustration of young South Koreans (Freepic)

JAKARTA - A recent study reveals that the younger generation, in South Korea, have a negative view of marriage and children. Financial concerns are the main reason for this fear.

The non-profit Korean Peninsula Population Institute for Future (KPPIF) research institute analyzed around 50 thousand uploads on the worker community platform, Blind since November 2024. The study, published on March 11, shows that anxiety related to marriage and developing families is still very strong among young people.

According to the report, 32.3% of wedding-related posts reflect grief, while 24.6% showed fear. In discussions about having children, feelings of disgust (23.8%) and fear (21.3%) were the most dominant.

In contrast, posts that reflect very little happiness, only 9.3% in discussions on marriage, 7.3% about having children, and 13.1% in discussions on parenting.

Although South Korea's birth rate slightly increased from 0.72 in 2023 to 0.74 in 2024, the study confirms that negative perceptions of marriage and having children are still very strong.

Financial problems dominate discussion, with the word 'money' appearing in 28.9% of marriage-related uploads and being one of the five main keywords in discussions about having children (13.2%). The word 'housing' is also often mentioned, especially in talks about parenting and parental leave.

This study also classifies the main topics discussed. In uploads on marriage, 57.9% discussed the preparation and conditions of marriage. Meanwhile, in discussions on having children, the main topic discussed is economic support for having children (19.9%) as well as the impact of social change and decreasing birth rates (36.8%).

In talks on parenting, 69.6% discussed the role of parents at home, and 30.4% focused on support at work as well as career management for parents.

Although there has been a slight increase in the birth rate, the researchers warn against considering it a sign of long-term recovery.

"This increase is encouraging, but it may only be temporary due to delays in marriage and having children during the pandemic," the report said, quoted from The Korea Bizwire's website.

Yoo Hye-jung, head of the Population Research Center at KPPIF, stressed the need for serious policy intervention.

"To overcome the population crisis, we must ease the economic burden of young people and increase the balance of work-life. Companies need to create a family-friendly work environment and encourage parental leave. Meanwhile, the government must prioritize housing stability and expand meaningful support for child care." he said.

If the birth rate continues to be low, the results of this study emphasize that economic reforms and policies in the workplace will play an important role in determining the future of South Korea's demographics.