Young adults in their 20s and 30s in South Korea and Japan are postponing marriage for markedly different reasons, with Koreans citing financial burdens such as housing costs while Japanese respondents point to difficulty finding a suitable partner, a new survey shows.
Twenis Tokyo, a Korea-Japan matchmaking agency, recently released the results of a lifestyle and values survey conducted on a total of 800 people in their 20s and 30s, 400 from each country.
The findings reveal clear differences between young adults in the two countries in how they perceive and respond to the practical barriers standing in the way of marriage and life.
The reasons for delaying marriage diverged sharply. Korean respondents primarily cited "the burden of childbirth and child-rearing" (28.5%) and "the cost of securing housing" (25.5%). Japanese respondents named "fear of losing freedom" (35.5%) as the biggest reason.
Perceptions of employment and entry into society also differed significantly. While 42.1% of Korean young adults viewed job-seeking as a "narrow gate," 52.5% of their Japanese counterparts said it was "manageable with effort."
Korean respondents identified "an uncertain future" and "repeated rejections" as the main sources of stress during job-hunting, while Japanese respondents pointed to "concerns about interpersonal relationships and fitting into the organization." The results show that Korean young adults feel greater pressure over entering society itself, whereas Japanese young adults feel more burdened by adaptation and relationships within the organization after joining it.
Differences were also pronounced in life satisfaction and emotional support. The share who said they were "happy" was 68.2% in Japan, higher than the 54.5% in Korea. Conversely, the share who said they were "not happy" was 45.5% in Korea, higher than the 31.8% in Japan.
As the biggest emotional anchor in life, Korean young adults most often cited "family and romantic partners" (42.5%), while Japanese young adults most often cited "hobbies and leisure activities" (48.5%).
"The results show that Korean young adults tend to seek emotional support within relationships, while Japanese young adults are relatively more inclined to maintain balance in life through personal tastes and leisure," a Twenis Tokyo official said.
