Amid a record-breaking rally in Korea's benchmark KOSPI, sentiment toward marriage and childbirth among unmarried Koreans is shifting, with more than six out of 10 viewing marriage positively and willingness to have children crossing the 40% mark for the first time.
67% Say They Want to Marry; Willingness to Have Children Tops 40%
The Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy (PCASPP) released the results of its "5th Survey on Perceptions of Marriage, Childbirth, Parenting and Government Low-Birth Measures" on Tuesday. The survey was conducted in March on 2,800 adults aged 25 to 49 nationwide.
According to the results, 76.4% of all respondents viewed marriage positively, continuing an upward trend since the first survey in 2024. Among unmarried respondents, positive perception of marriage reached 65.7%, up 9.8 percentage points from 55.9% two years ago.
Actual willingness to marry also rose. Among unmarried respondents, 67.4% said they intended to marry. Some 65.2% of women in their 20s and 55.4% of women in their 30s said they were willing to marry.
The shift in attitudes toward childbirth was even more pronounced. Among all respondents, 71.6% said children were necessary. Looking only at unmarried respondents, 62.6% said children were necessary and 40.7% expressed willingness to have children.
In particular, willingness to have children among the unmarried jumped 11.2 percentage points from 29.5% in the first survey in 2024, topping 40% for the first time. The PCASPP described this as "a positive signal of a rebound from low birth rates."
"Confidence from KOSPI"...How the Market Rally Changed the Mood
Some analysts point to the booming stock market as a factor behind the recent unusual rebound in the birth rate.
Lee Eun-taek, an analyst at KB Securities, said in a report on Monday, "The total fertility rate for January and February this year was 0.96, one of the highest growth trends since statistics began." He added, "The birth rate should be viewed alongside asset market trends rather than simply as a demographic issue."
He particularly singled out the strength of the KOSPI as a key variable. Korea's domestic stock market has been on a rally to record highs. His explanation is that a rising market stimulates expectations across the economy and risk appetite beyond mere investment gains, and this also influences long-term decisions such as marriage and childbirth.
"It may be that people are having more children because they made money in stocks, but more fundamentally, it's the confidence the market gives," the analyst said. "Marriage and childbirth are decided not when people are running the numbers but when they become optimistic about the future."
Past cases were similar. In 2000 and from 2006 to 2007, the birth rate rebounded despite high housing prices, and the common denominator at those times was also a strong KOSPI rally. By contrast, from 2016 to 2021, the stock market was stuck in a trading range while housing prices surged, fueling a "suddenly poor" sentiment and housing insecurity that drove people away from marriage and childbirth, according to the analysis.
With the KOSPI surging now while housing price gains remain relatively modest, observers say a favorable environment is being created for marriage and childbirth sentiment.
Kim Jin-oh, vice chairman of the PCASPP, said, "The rise in the younger generation's perceptions of marriage and childbirth is a meaningful change." He added, "We plan to continue policy supplements to foster a culture friendly to childbirth and parenting and an environment where people can take parental leave without feeling self-conscious."
"Good Jobs and Flexible Work Needed"...Real Conditions Also Matter
However, some point out that improved perceptions of marriage and childbirth do not simply translate from a change in mood. The survey also showed that the core issue is ultimately "realistic conditions."
Some 83.9% of respondents cited "expanding good jobs" as the most important task for resolving low birth rates. Active participation by companies and local governments (80.1%), easing the burden of private education costs (78.3%) and improving perceptions of marriage and childbirth (77.7%) followed.
In the area of work-family balance, demand for "activating flexible work during child-rearing" was the highest at 60.6%. The response rate among women was especially high at 68.6%, much higher than among men.
In the area of marriage and childbirth policy, demand for "expanded tax benefits" was the highest, while in housing policy, demand for "easing income criteria for home purchase and jeonse (a Korean lease system requiring a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent) funds" was the highest. Among those in their 20s and the unmarried, there was also strong demand for expanded housing subscription opportunities.
Satisfaction with care services remained high at over 80%, but households with infants and toddlers most wanted expanded service hours, while households with elementary school children most wanted program improvements and better service quality.
